PETALING JAYA: Top Malaysian woman swimmer Siow Yi Ting’s participation in the SEA Games next month is hanging in the balance.

Although Yi Ting’s name has been included in the aquatics team for the SEA Games in Manila from Nov 27-Dec 5, she may have to give the competition a miss due to her studies.

Her university – University of Wisconsin in the United States – requires her to pass the first-year semester examinations, which will be held immediately after the Games in December.

Yi Ting, 20, started a scholarship programme with the university in September after graduating from the renowned Bolles School in Florida, the same school attended by compatriot and top backstroker Lim Keng Liat.

Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) secretary Edwin Chong said Yi Ting’s name had been submitted along with six other swimmers for the SEA Games squad but her participation is still not confirmed.

“Yi Ting has been told that she has to pass her first semester exams to move on to the next term. If she fails, she could be out of the university.

“Competing in the SEA Games will take her away for at least one week and there is the question of how she can cope with her studies,” said Edwin.

“We are still negotiating with the concerned parties. Hopefully, we can reach a compromise.”

If the Negri Sembilan-born swimmer is unable to join the Manila SEA Games team, it will certainly diminish Malaysia’s gold medal chances in the pool.

Breaststroker Yi Ting is one of the gold medal prospects, having delivered gold medals in the last two SEA Games in 2001 and 2003.

She swam her way to three golds and one silver medals from four events in Vietnam two years ago.

High hopes have been placed on her to defend her titles in the 100m and 200m breaststroke and the 400m individual medley events.

The other swimmers for the SEA Games are Keng Liat, Daniel Bego (men); Khoo Cai Lin, Chui Lai Kwan, Chai Sook Fun and Ong Ming Xiu (women).