Hangzhou, China, September 25, 2023: Republic of Korea sprinter Ji Yuchan brought China’s golden run in the pool to an end on Day Two at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Aquatic Sports Arena on Monday as he won gold in the men’s 50 metres freestyle in a new Asian Games record.
The host nation won all seven gold medals on offer on Sunday’s opening night and claimed the first two titles on Monday as Xu Jiayu and Wang Xueer took the men’s and women’s 50m backstroke respectively before Ji brought the Chinese winning streak to an end.
The 21-year-old finished in 21.72 seconds, 0.12 under the Asian Games record he had set in the heats, and ahead of Hong Kong, China’s Ian Ho and 100m freestyle gold medallist Pan Zhanle of China.
Siobhan Haughey won Hong Kong, China’s first gold in the pool with a dominant display in the women’s 200m freestyle, leading from start to finish to beat Li Bingjie by almost two seconds with Liu Yaxin third.
Her time of 1 minute 54.12 seconds set a new Asian Games record and was only 0.2 seconds outside the Asian record she recorded to win silver at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021.
“It’s very special, I’m really happy about it,” said Haughey after becoming Hong Kong, China’s first-ever Asian Games swimming gold medallist. “I guess I was hoping for a little faster time, but it’s not too far off my best time so I’m still happy with it.
“I know it’s a very long meet, six days and I’m basically swimming every session, so it’s important to manage my energy level and my recovery.
“I am really happy about it but I’m trying not to let my emotions drain me too much, so now I’m focusing on what I can do for my upcoming races.”
The hosts secured four of the seven gold medals on offer on Monday evening, with Xu Jiayu finishing half a second ahead of compatriot Wang Gukailai in 24.38 seconds to win the men’s 50m backstroke while Japan’s Ryosuke Irie took the bronze medal.
The Chinese backed that up in the women’s 50m backstroke with Wang Xueer defeating Wan Letian to claim gold in 27.35 seconds and Miki Takahashi from Japan touching in third.
Qin Haiyang, crowned world champion in Fukuoka in July, powered down the opening length on his way to victory in the men’s 100m breaststroke in an Asian Games record 57.76 seconds, well over a second clear of Yan Zibei with Choi Dongyeol from the Republic of Korea third.
“I’m quite pleased with the result today,” said Qin. “My form is quite similar to what it was at the world championships, and I’m trying out some new race strategies. I’m more aggressive in the first half of my swims, going faster.”
Yu Yiting won the women’s 200m Individual Medley in 2:07.75, also an Asian Games record, with former Olympic champion Ye Shiwen rolling back the years to pip Kim Seo-yeong to the silver medal, defeating the Republic of Korea swimmer by 0.02 seconds.
The Koreans closed out the session on a high by winning the gold in the men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay, setting a new Asian record of 7:01.73 to beat China by 1.67 seconds as Japan came in third.