Chinese swimmers leave Japanese rivals in slipstream
(Reuters)Updated: 2006-12-03 14:40
DOHA - Pang Jiaying won the first of China's five swimming gold medals at the 15th Asian Games on Saturday with an emphatic victory in the women's 200m freestyle.
 China's Wu Peng reacts after winning the men's 200m butterfly swimming finals at the 15th Asian Games in Doha December 2, 2006. [Reuters] |
Pang broke clear of the field with 50m remaining to win in a time of 1:59.26, beating team mate and defending champion Yang Yu into second place with Japan¡¯s Maki Mita taking the bronze.
A relay silver medallist at the Athens Olympics, Pang said the one-two punch showed Chinese swimmers were working towards success together, rather than as individuals.
"I'm very excited about this gold medal and very satisfied by my performance," Pang said.
"We always encourage each other and have common goals. Whoever wins we are satisfied. It is China who will be the winner," she said, adding that she was confident of winning gold in Beijing in 2008.
 China's Pang Jiaying reacts after winning the women's 200m freestyle finals at the 15th Asian Games in Doha December 2, 2006. [Xinhua] |
China boosted its mushrooming medal tally with four more golds in the pool through Wu Peng in the men¡¯s 200m butterfly, Zhou Yafei in the women¡¯s 100m butterfly, Ji Liping in the women's 50m breaststroke and the women¡¯s 4x100m medley relay.
Wu allowed Japanese pair Takeshi Matsuda and Ryuichi Shibata¡ªthe world number four and five¡ªto do the early work before storming past them in the final 25m to win in a time of 1:54.91.
"Four years ago, I wouldn¡¯t have expected this, but this time I was expecting to win," said Wu.
"As I came down the last length, I knew it was time for the final battle. I knew about Shibata. He has more speed than me, but my focus was my speed at the end."
Sano Hidemasa got Japan off the mark in the men's 400m individual medley, opening up an unassailable lead from the gun to finish ahead of compatriot Shinya Taniguchi in 4:16.18.
Hidemasa piled on the pressure during his strong butterfly and backstroke legs and hung on for the only non-Chinese victory of the night.
"I'm very happy to win, because I know China and Japan are challenging each other," he said.
"I played to my strengths successfully and this gold medal will help to advance our medals tally."
South Korea¡¯s Han Kyu-chul took the bronze.
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