Young swimmers impress at National Games
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E-mail Xinhua, September 11, 2013
With Olympic swimming champions Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen in the spotlight at the Chinese National Games, a host of less known youngster swimmers also impressed in the pool.
Ning Zetao, representing the People's Liberation Army team, was the undisputed No. 1 budding star as he broke two Asian records - men's 100m freestyle in 48.27, and 50m free in 21.91.
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Ning Zetao broke men's 50m freestyle Asian record to claim gold at the National Games. |
Ning finished eighth in 400m individual medley and 10th in 200m IM in his first National Games four years ago, but he made huge progress after switching to freestyle events in 2011.
"I believe he has the potential to clock under 48 seconds," said Ning's coach Ye Jin.
Wang Shun, a Zhejiang teammate of Sun Yang, concluded the National Games with four golds, including two victories in relay events. The 19-year-old Wang won the men's 400m medley title in national record time 4:09.10, which could have secured him a silver at the world championships in Barcelona in July.
Former Chinese swimming team head coach Chen Yunpeng held high expectations of Wang.
"Wang will be another gold hope for China at the Olympic Games in future. He is very competitive in 200m and 400m medley," said Chen.
Ye Shiwen, who took the London 2012 Olympics by storm when she won both 200m and 400m IM titles, met with tough challenge in the 200m IM final when she beat 15-year-old Chen Xinyi by only 0.27 seconds.
But Chen was the quickest in the 50m freestyle final in 24.61, the world's ninth best time the year. She also defeated much heralded swimmers Tang Yi and Pang Jiaying to win the 100m freestyle in 53.84.
"My aim is to beat Ye," said Chen, who grabbed her third gold with Shanghai's triumph in the 4x100m medley relay.
Xin Xin made a perfect debut at the National Games when she clocked 8:19.43 to become the first Asian woman to crack 8:20 in the 800m freestyle. Her time was the fifth fastest in the world of the year. She also won the 10km open water.
The men's 100m backstroke also saw breakthrough as Xu Jiayu broke the national record in 53.43, which could rank fifth at the Barcelona Worlds. The 18-year-old also upstaged national record holder Zhang Fenglin to win the 200m backstroke in 1:56.57.
Shanxi's 18-year-old Cao Yue, whose specialties are 100m and 200m backstroke, emerged as a dark horse as she won the 400m freee in 4:03.11, which was about nine seconds faster than her personal best.
Fu Yuanhui, the 50m backstroke silver medalist in July's world championships, defeated world champion Zhao Jing in the 100m back to win her first National Games title.
The 17-year-old Fu clocked 59.36 in the semis of 100m back, which was better than her time at the world championships.
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