LA Salle Green Hills standout Behrouz Mohammad Madi Mojdeh proved unstoppable after capturing his fourth gold medal at the 3rd Asian Open Schools Invitational (AOSI) Short Course Swimming Championships at the Assumption University Aquatics Center Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok, Thailand.
Mojdeh clocked a commanding 2:12.40 to dominate the boys’ 15-year 200-m backstroke, finishing comfortably ahead of runner-up Tuong Thai of Vietnam (2:16.50).
He also ruled the 200m butterfly with a swift 2:08.86 — missing the tournament record of 2:08.48 by just a hair.
“Fell just short of the record, but it was a solid race. The focus now shifts entirely to what’s next. Two events remaining, and the goal remains the same: total sweep,” Mojdeh said.
Mojdeh delivered a masterclass in the 200-m butterfly, stopping the clock at 2:08.86. The performance brought him within striking distance of the tournament record of 2:08.48, missing the mark by a mere fraction of a second.
Mojdeh had already stamped his authority on the championships earlier in the meet by smashing the tournament records in both the 200-m Individual Medley (2:12.31) and the 200-m breaststroke (2:26.53), keeping his target of a six-event sweep well within reach.
He will next plunge into action in the 100-m butterfly and 200-m freestyle events on the final day of competition.
Meanwhile, his teammates from the Behrouz Elite Swimming Team (BEST) kept the momentum going, highlighted by a record-breaking performance from Clara Maligat.
The La Salle Zobel standout posted an impressive 2:31.68 to claim gold in the girls’ 15-year 200-m butterfly, shattering the previous record of 2:54.06 set by Malaysia’s Meral Ayn Latheef in the 2024 edition. This marks Maligat’s second gold medal following her victory in the 25-m butterfly, alongside a silver finish in the 100m freestyle (1:04.32).
Therese Annika Quinto also put on a show in the girls’ 15-year division, snagging two more gold medals after reigning supreme in the 50-m backstroke (32.07) and 100-m freestyle (1:02.20). Quinto now holds three golds overall, adding to her earlier win in the 50-m freestyle (28.30).
The regional meet features top talent from 16 Asian nations, including Iran, South Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Malaysia and host Thailand.
Adding to the tally, La Salle Zobel swimmer Nino Angelo Pugay secured a silver (200-m butterfly) and a bronze (200-m IM) in the boys’ 16-year category.
Rounding out the haul, Immaculate Heart of Mary College-Parañaque tanker Mikhael Jasper Mikee Mojdeh bagged a bronze in the boys’ 11-year 100-m freestyle, while La Salle Zobel bet Athena Denise Custodio claimed bronze in the girls’ 15-year 200-m breaststroke.
”Watching our athletes fight for medals in every event makes me immensely proud. This experience will serve them well — honing their technique and preparing them to take on tougher competition in the future,” said BEST team manager Joan Mojdeh.
