China Dominates First Day at 9th Asian Swimming Championships

RENANG INDONESIA-Chinese swimming prodigy Sun Yang even without much preparation showcased just why he is one of the best young swimming talents in the world.

On a day when China dominated the results during the first day of the ninth Asian Swimming Championships, Sun Yang broke the Championship record with a display oozing perfection at the 200m freestyle event with a time of 1:45:49 beating off compatriot Hao Yun and Misuzu Yabu of Japan.

In his press conference before the tournament Yang played down expectations but showed just why he won two gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics.

China dominated all events on the first day of the championships taking place at the wonderful Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex as they won a majority of the Gold medals just as swimming fans expected.

The country blew away the competition although South Korea’s Chang Gyu-Cheol temporarily stopped China’s dominance with gold in the 100m butterfly as he beat China’s Chen Yin over two laps.

China opened with a gold medal in the very first event of the Championship, the men’s 50m breaststroke.

Xiayan Li opened China’s medal haul beating off Japan’s Yoshiki Yamanaka and Hong Kong’s Chun Yan Wong.

That dominance continued throughout the day barring Gyu-Cheol’s win.

Zhao Jing and Fu Yuanhui came in first and second respectively in the women’s 50m backstroke with Singapore’s Tao Li securing third place and a bronze medal.

Ha Sinan won the women’s 200m butterfly competition before Sun Yang wrapped off China’s gold haul with a brilliant display.

The double gold medal winner will now perform in the 400m and 1,500m freestyle competitions on Friday and Saturday.

Dr Ahmad Al Sharif, the Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, Sheikh Khalid Mohammed Al Badr Al Sabah, the President of the Asian Swimming Federation (AASF) and Ahmed Al Falasi, the President of the UAE Swimming Federation launched the event with speeches during the opening ceremony of the games.

China is a swimming powerhouse and also dominated the swimming competitions at the London Olympics.

The tournament will take place till November 25 and fans can get tickets for AED 20 for a day pass while a season pass is available for AED 80 right at the venue.

Dubai organises numerous sporting events throughout the year and is the best location for major events thanks to its brilliant facilities.

The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex has received massive praise from swimmers with Sun Yang in his press conference calling it better than the London Aquatics Centre where he won his two gold medals.