Shenzhen, south China – World champion Xu Jiayu clinched his third gold at the National Swimming Championships, dominating the men's 200m backstroke in 1:57.56 on Thursday. The 29-year-old Zhejiang representative led from the first stroke, building a near three-second gap over Guangdong's Tao Guan by the 150m mark. Despite a late-race stamina challenge, Xu touched first, followed by Yu Jingming in second and Tao in third.
In the men's 200m breaststroke, 26-year-old world record holder Qin Haiyang powered to gold in 2:07.57, leading the pack from start to finish. Fellow world champion Dong Zhihao trailed in 2:09.98, both securing spots at the July World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
The women's 200m breaststroke delivered a thrilling upset. Olympic champion Ye Shiwen surged early, briefly taking the lead before defending her advantage over the next 100m. But 15-year-old Lyu Qinyao erased a more-than-one-second deficit in the final 50m to claim gold in 2:25.81, leaving Yu Jingyao and Ye close behind.
The men's 4×200m freestyle relay saw Zhejiang assemble a powerhouse quartet: world champions Pan Zhanle, Wang Shun, Sun Yang, and Asian Games gold medalist Fei Liwei. Together they touched in 7:12.76, marking Sun Yang's first gold of the meet and underlining Zhejiang's depth in freestyle talent.
With world champions and rising stars on display, China’s top swimmers set the stage for a competitive international season, blending experience and youth as they eye upcoming global meets.
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Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang dominate China's National Swimming Championships
cgtn.com
