By Michael Church, OCA Media
Tokyo, Japan, September 23, 2026: Yu Zidi booked her place in Wednesday’s final of the 400 metres individual medley at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre with the 13-year-old looking to secure her third gold medal of the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, and Zhang Yufei qualified fastest in the women’s 100 metres butterfly.
Yu, winner of the 200 metres individual medley and 200 metres butterfly already this week, qualified fastest for the final, touching 0.36 seconds ahead of Japan’s Mio Narita in 4 minutes 39.43 seconds.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yufei, the six-times gold medal winner at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, will go into the final of the 100 metres butterfly as favourite after qualifying more than two seconds clear of her nearest rival from the heats.
The 28-year-old Zhang touched in 57.31 seconds, well ahead of Chinese Taipei’s Han An-chi with Yeung Hoi Ching from Hong Kong, China in third.
“I felt that my condition for this competition was quite good, so when I started this morning, my plan was to swim the entire race according to the pace I would use in a final,” said Zhang, who is the defending champion in the event.
“But, after all, it wasn't a final, and there wasn't really anyone beside me pushing me in competition. So after about 65 meters I eased off.
“However, tonight I still have very high expectations for myself and I want to challenge my best performance of the seasons since the Paris Olympics over the past two years.”
China’s Xu Fang recorded the fastest time in the heats of the men’s 100 metres butterfly, finishing 0.06 seconds ahead of Katsuhiro Matsumoto of Japan in a time of 52.01 seconds with Wang Xizhe in third.
Peng Xuwei, gold medallist in the women’s 200 metres backstroke, qualified quickest for the 100 metres backstroke final while Japan’s Tatsuya Murasa had the fastest time in the heats of the men’s 200 metres freestyle in 1 minute 47.60 seconds.
Little more than a second separated the top five qualifiers with 1500 metres champion Zhang Zhanshuo from China qualifying fifth, 1.06 seconds behind Murasa.
“I think this morning's race was relatively relaxed,” said Zhang. “And it was also a chance to prepare for the final, because the 200-meter final is going to be very challenging. Although my opponents are very strong, I'll still do everything I can and give my absolute best.”
Satomi Suzuki qualified in first place in the women’s 100 metres breaststroke as she attempts to reclaim the gold medal in the event after winning the title in Jakarta in 2018.
The Japanese swimmer, who turns 36 in January, took silver in Hangzhou three years ago.