Zhang Yufei Adds 50 Butterfly Title at Chinese National Games; Ian Ho Sets Hong Kong Record in 50 Freestyle
A mix of youthful promise and veteran experience has been on display over the past week at the Chinese National Games, but it was one of the “older” stars who emerged victorious during action on Sunday night. Already the winner of the 100-meter butterfly earlier in the meet, 27-year-old Zhang Yufei sprinted to the title in the 50 butterfly on Night Seven, narrowly fending off a pair of challengers.
Zhang covered her length of the pool in 25.61, which was quick enough to deny Wu Qingfeng (25.72) and Yu Yiting (25.79). A 10-time Olympic medalist, Zhang had a busy night of sprinting, as she also advanced to the final of the 50 freestyle. In that event, Zhang notched the third-fastest time of the semifinals, going 24.83. That mark trailed the 24.58 of Cheng Yujie and the 24.67 of Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Li Bingjie defeated the field in the women’s 800 freestyle, touching the wall in 8:19.00 for a sizable margin over Mao Yihan (8:27.34). The win was the third of the competition for Li, who previously prevailed in the 1500 freestyle and 400 freestyle. She was also the runnerup in the 200 freestyle, finishing behind Haughey.
In the men’s 50 freestyle, Hong Kong’s Ian Ho was dominant, as he posted the only sub-22 clocking. Ho checked in with a swim of 21.71, which was nearly a half-second clear of runnerup Chen Hao (22.17) and bettered his national record of 21.82, set at last summer’s World Championships in Singapore. As for the final of the women’s 200 backstroke, Peng Xuwei was quickest in 2:07.74, while Wang Changhao edged Xu Fang in the final of the men’s 100 butterfly, 51.40 to 51.46.
Semifinal competition saw Tang Qianting secure the top seed for the final of the 50 breaststroke with a swim of 30.01 and Xu Jiayu move a step closer to a sweep of the men’s backstroke events. Xu advanced into Lane Four of the 50 backstroke final following a performance of 24.36.
The final day of the eight-day competition will be held on Monday, with 13-year-old Yu Zidi expected to contest the 400 individual medley. Earlier in the meet, Yu set an Asian record in the 200 medley, breaking the 2012 standard set by Olympic champion Ye Shiwen.