SEA Games Athletics: Dipna Lim-Prasad wins 400m hurdles bronze in new national record

dipna lim prasad 400m hurdles bronze sea games

Dipna Lim-Prasad on her way to the 400m hurdles bronze at the SEA Games. (Photo 1 by Peh Siong San for SSC)

Myanmar, Tuesday, December 17, 2013 – Dipna Lim-Prasad, 22, of Singapore won the bronze in the 400m hurdles at the 2013 Myanmar Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. Her time of 59.96 seconds is a new national open record. Dipna had only just set the old record of 60.36s in October 2013.

The last time a Singapore woman won a SEA Games athlete, the year was 1979, 34 years ago. Heather Merican then sprinted to a bronze in the 100m hurdles at the Jakarta SEA Games. Dipna’s win is also the first time that a Singapore woman has won a medal in the 400m hurdles.

In the stands were Dipna’s parents, who were watching her compete overseas for the first time.

“[I want to thank] my mum and dad for flying over to support the track team and I in Nay Pyi Taw – it is the first time they flew over to support me in any competition. I am so grateful for my family’s love and belief in me through all these years,” wrote Dipna on Facebook.

“[I also want to thank] my coach, Vassiliev Viatcheslav (Slava), who is so dedicated and is like a 2nd dad. He believes in me even when I do not,” added Dipna.

Wassana Winatho of Thailand won the 400m hurdles gold medal in 58.85s while Quach Thi Lan of Vietnam won the silver in 58.93s.

In the women’s 100m final, Shanti Veronica Pereira, 17, finished fourth in 11.99s. Her personal best (PB) is 11.89s.

Vu Thi Huong of Vietnam won the 100m gold medal with a time of 11.59s. Neeranuch Klomdee of Thailand won the silver medal with 11.85s while her compatriot Tassaporn Wannakit won the bronze in 11.91s.

Results for Singapore Athletics
Dipna Lim-Prasad – Bronze (400m hurdles final, 59.96s)
Shanti Veronica Pereira – 4th (100m final, 11.99s)
Gary Yeo – 5th (100m, 10.70s)
Muhammad Amirudin bin Jamal – 3rd (100m final, 10.55s)
Lee Cheng Wei, Calvin Kang, Amirudin, Muhammad Elfi bin Mustapa – Silver (4x100m relay final, 39.79s)
Sean Lim – 5th out of 10 (Pole Vault, 4.80m)
Chan Sheng Yao – 8th out of 10 (Pole Vault, 4.60m)
Mok Ying Ren – Gold (Marathon, 2:28:36)
Ashley Liew – 8th out of 9 (Marathon, 2:42:55)
Du Xianhui – Silver (Shot Put, 14.92m)
Zhang Guirong – Gold (Shot Put, 14.99m)
James Wong – 5th out of 7 (Discus, 50.82m)
T. Piriyah – 8th out of 8 (400m final, 57.657s; 400m heats, 57.66s)
Percy Muncherji Zubin – 10th out of 16 (400m heats, 48.90s)
Loh Guo Pei – 13th out of 16 (400m heats, 50.67s)
Goh Chui Ling – 10th out of 11 (400m heats, 59.47s)