Yang Li of China broke the world record for the women's 50m backstroke, while Russia topped the medal tally at the 4th Military World Games in Hyderabad on Friday.

 

Yang clocked a time of 28.09 seconds, breaking the previous record of 28.16 set by Leila Vaziri of the United States in the world championships in Melbourne in March.

 

 

This is also the first world record broken at the World Military Games since it first opened in Rome in 1995.

 

The 22-year-old said: "I am happy to know that. In the coming days, I will concentrate on preparing for the 2008 Olympic Games."

 

According to Yang's teammate Xu Tianlongzi, the world record holder had already qualified for the Beijing Olympic Games.

 

Xu took the silver in 29.05 seconds, while Zueva Anastasia of Russia got the bronze in 20.07.

 

Inspired by Yang, Chinese athletes have shone in boxing, military pentathlon, volleyball and shooting. In total they have garnered five gold, seven silver and four bronze medals.

Russia grabbed six more golds to dominate the medal rally with 26 golds, 20 silvers, and 21 bronzes, followed by China in 22-16-9. Ukraine placed third with 5-6-12.

 

Yuliya Pakhalina broke China's domination in diving to clinch the title for the women's 1m springboard, grabbing the first gold of the day for Russia.

 

The Olympic champion had five spectacular dives to collect a total of 308.10 points for the gold, beating Yang Yuting of China to second place in 268.90.

 

Their parachuting team added three golds and the remaining two came from swimming with B. Elena winning the women's 50m breaststroke and the men's quartet crowning in the 4X100m freestyle relay.

 

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2007)