Tomoru Honda & Qin Haiyang Set Meet Marks In Asian Games Prelims; China DQd In Women’s Medley Relay
Tomoru Honda & Qin Haiyang Set Meet Marks In Asian Games Prelims; China DQd In Women’s Medley Relay
Tomoru Honda and Qin Haiyang both pulled out Games records in the final prelims session of the Asian Games pool programme in Hangzhou, China.
However, there was a shock in the women’s medley relay when China was DQd when Wang Xueer took a clear flier on the lead-off.
Here’s how the final morning of prelims unfolded at Hangzhou Olympic Center Aquatic Sports Arena.
Women’s 50m Butterfly
Zhang Yufei returned to the pool a day after winning 50 free gold despite a high temperature as she claimed her fifth title.
Zhang led a Chinese 1-2 into the final with Yu Yiting in 25.78 to 25.85 with Japan’s Rikako Ikee third through in 26.22.
Men’s 50m Breaststroke
Qin is a man apparently always on the highest of tempos and came within 0.30secs of Adam Peaty’s WR of 25.95 from the 2017 worlds on Friday morning.
The Chinese – who clocked a new Asian Games mark of 26.25 – is seeking his third breaststroke clean sweep in two months following his historic treble at the World Championships in July followed by the World University Games.
In Hangzhou, he has already won the 100 and 200.
Men’s 200m Backstroke
Hidekazu Takehara of Japan and Korea’s Lee Juho were the only men inside 2mins in 1:59.78 and 1:59.82 respectively.
Xu Jiayu – who’s seeking the treble after already claiming 50 and 100 gold – is next through.
Men’s 400m Freestyle
Kim Woomin was the only man inside 3:50, the Korean going 3:49.03.
Kim has already claimed the 800 title and won 1500 silver although he’ll be very pushed to threaten Park Tae-Hwan‘s Games record of 3:41.53.
Behind him came Malaysia’s Khiew Hoe Yean (3:51.31).
Men’s 200m Butterfly
Honda produced an eye-watering 2 fly prelim of 1:53.30 – swifter than the 1:53.66 in which he claimed bronze at the Fukuoka worlds.
And faster even than Krzysztof Chmielewski took silver in Japan (1:56.62).
Splits:
25.14/53.67 (28.53)/1:23.01 (29.34)/1:53.30 (30.29).
It sliced a sizeable 0.72secs chunk from Takeshi Matsuda‘s Games record of 1:54.02 from the 2010 edition and was a season’s best.
Only Leon Marchand – en-route to the world title – and Kristof Milak have eclipsed that in 2023.
Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay
China’s DQ brings to an end Zhang’s hopes of winning seven golds.
A clear infringement, it sees Japan into the final in lane four in 4:02.33 alongside Korea (4:06.42) with Singapore and Hong Kong – who will draft in Siobhan Haughey – next through.