DUBAI, UAE, November 16. CHINA'S swimmers continued to impress on the second day of the Asian Swimming Championships, as Zhang Fenglin and Sun Yang provided the day's highlights.
Zhang, who tied for fourth for China in the 200 backstroke at the Olympics with a 1:55.59, won that event today in Dubai with a meet record time of 1:56.38. Teammate Xu Jiayu took second with a 1:58.94, and Keita Sunama placed third in 1:59.77.
A day after nearly posting a lifetime best in the 200 freestyle, Sun Yang won the 400 free with a 3:42.49, well off his lifetime best of 3:40.14 that he swam to win Olympic gold in London. Hao Yun was 25 meters behind Sun, placing second with a 3:54.34 and Japan's Takumi Komatsu placed third with a 3:54.59.
Zhao Jing of China, the reigning world champion in the 100 backstroke, posted a sub-1:00 winning time of 59.97 today, just missing Gao Chang's meet record of 59.96 by the slimmest of margins. Teammate Fu Yuanhui was second with a 1:00.54, and Japan's Marie Kamimura was third with a 1:02.79.
Pang Jiaying of China also dipped under a big barrier, posting a 1:59.77 in the women's 200 freestyle. Teammate Tang Yi finished second with a 2:00.70, while Hong Kong's Sze Hang Yu was third with a 2:00.84.
Zhao Jin took the title in the women's 200 breast with a 2:29.29, with Korea's Suyeon Back surging from fourth at the 100 to take silver with a 2:30.18. China's Liu Hongjiao settled for third with a 2:30.86.
Japan got into the win column, thanks to Kazuki Kohinata's victory in the men's 100 breast with a 1:02.18. Korea's Kyuwoong Cho was second with a 1:02.54, and China's Yunkun Huang placed third with a 1:02.64.
Lu Ying, the Olympic silver medalist in the 100 butterfly, took the 50-meter event with a 26.34. Singapore's Li Tao placed second with a 26.93, and Hong Kong's Hang Yu Sze took third with a 27.32.
Tang Yi was back in the 50 free, earning the win with a 25.70. Teammate Wang Haibing placed second with a time of 25.95, and Singapore's Xiang Qi Lim was third with a 26.17.
Chen Yin and Shi Tengfei went 1-2 in a close race in the men's 50 butterfly, posting times of 24.63 and 24.67. Japan's Toru Maruyama was third in 24.77.