SINGAPORE: Nguyen Thi Ahn Vien made sure with her two gold medals in Southeast Asian Games record times that opening night honors in the swimming program went to Vietnam instead of the host nation.

That’s two down — a demanding double of the 800-meter freestyle and the 400 individual medley — and a potential nine finals to go for the Florida-based Nguyen in Singapore.

The 18-year-old Nguyen set a meet record in the morning heats of the 400 IM on Saturday, saying she wanted to lay down a good time for the final.

After her teammate Hoang Quy Phuoc led from start to finish to edge local favorite Quah Zheng Wen and win the 200 freestyle in a meet record 1 minute, 48.96 seconds — giving Vietnam the first gold medal of the competition — Nguyen won the 800, also in a meet record 8:34.85, finishing a half lap clear of second-place Himathongkom Ammiga of Thailand.

Quah won the 100 backstroke, helping erase some of the disappointment of his earlier defeat for a stadium full of Singapore supporters, before Nguyen was back in the water to win the IM in 4:42.88. That was more than a second faster than her morning swim, and more than a minute faster than last place Shun Lei Maw of Myanmar, who is the youngest swimmer in the competition at age 10.

Nguyen said she was undertaking a grueling program in Singapore to prepare for the World Championships later this year in Russia where her coach, Dang Ahn Tuan, predicted she could reach some finals.

“Tired? Not really. Now I feel happy ... proud,” Nguyen said of her opening night. Asked how many gold medals she was aiming for in Singapore, she confidently said “I hope I can win all” of the 11 she’s entered in.

Vietnam moved into second place on the medals table with 13 gold medals during the night program, four behind Singapore and three ahead of third-place Thailand.

Singapore won the women’s 4x100 freestyle relay, and Thailand’s Matjiur Radomyos won the men’s 200 breaststroke to ensure it wasn’t a two-country domination of the first six swimming titles.

Thailand had to revise down its medal expectations in swimming when reigning 200 breaststroke champion Nuttapong Ketin withdrew from four events after testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol in an out-of-competition test in Thailand last month.

Thailand chef de mission Thana Chaiprasit confirmed Saturday that Nuttapong, who carried the Thai flag in the opening ceremony at the London 2012 Olympics, was staying in Singapore, awaiting the result of testing on the B sample.

The 22-year-old Nuttapong has denied cheating, and was quoted in Thai media as saying the banned substance must have been in a diet supplement.

Malaysia’s powerful diving team swept the first two titles in their competition, with Ooi Tze Liang and Chew Yiwei winning the men’s 10-meter synchronized platform and Cheong Jun Hoong leading Ng Yan Yee in a 1-2 finish in women’s three-meter springboard.

Maria Claire Adorna overcame an ankle injury to win the women’s triathlon and collect the first gold medal of the games for Philippines, edging teammate Marion Mangrobang in the morning race.

Indonesia moved up the medal standings with two gold medals in traditional dragon boats, one in canoe and first place in the equestrian team event.

Cambodia picked up its first title in sepak takraw, while Myanmar opened its account with gold in canoeing with victory in the men’s C2-1000 and added more gold in sepak takraw and wushu.

In one of the most popular sports locally, vice-captain Chen Huifen celebrated her 100th international cap as Singapore beat Thailand 59-29 to secure a spot in Sunday’s netball final against Malaysia, which routed Brunei 79-23. Defending champion Singapore and Malaysia played to a 35-35 draw in the preliminary round.

In late football matches, Indonesia stayed in contention with a 6-1 win over Cambodia in Group A, and Thailand thrashed Brunei 5-0 in Group B.