2014 Asian Games – Sun Yang Repeats, Balandin Sweeps, Chinese Defeat The Japanese – Day Six Recap

2014 ASIAN GAMES – SWIMMING

• Sunday, September 21st-Friday, September 26th
• Incheon, South Korea
• Prelims/Finals: 9AM/7PM local time
• Event website
• Entry lists
• Meet results

Friday Schedule

• W 50 Free
• M 50 Breast
• W 200 Back
• M 1500 Free (timed final, fastest heat at night)
• W 200 IM
• M 4×100 Medley Relay

Women’s 50 Free

• World Record: 23.73 – Britta Steffen, Germany (2009)
• Asian Record: 24.51 – Le Jingyi, China (1994)
• Asian Games Record: 24.97 – Li Zhesi, China (2010)

Xinyi Chen won the 50m freestyle for China with  a time of 24.87 to be the only swimmer to dip under 25 seconds during the final. That time broke Li Zhesi’s Asian Games record of 24.97 that was set back in 2010.

That win gave Chen her second Asian Games record of the meet along with her third gold medal in as many events. Earlier she won the 100m fly and set a new record in that, and added to her tally with a win in the 4x100m freestyle relay.

The 16-year-old has simply been on another level during this competition, showing tons of promise for the future of the Chinese team.

Men’s 50 Breast

• World Record: 26.62 – Adam Peaty, Great Britain (2014)
  
• Asian Record: 27.30 – Kosuke Kitajima, Japan (2010)
  
• Asian Games Record: 27.80 – Xie Zhi, China (2010)
  

Kazakhstan’s Dimitriy Balandin popped onto the world scene this competition with a stunningly fast 200m breaststroke win, along with a win in the 100. Tonight, he completed the sweep taking down the previous Asian Games record in the 50m breaststroke by two one-hundredths of a second in order to win the event in a swift 27.78.

Not only did Balandin complete the sweep, but he was able to break an Asian Games record in all three breaststroke disciplines. Prior to these games, Balandin was fairly unknown and coming in as the underdog, but as of now he has definitely shown the world that he can be a defining force in the breaststrokes.

Second place finisher Yasuhiro Koseki of Japan was not far behind Balandin, touching the wall in 27.89 to take silver. Koseki also finished second to Balandin in the 100m breaststroke, and finished third overall in the 200.

Sandeep Sejwal added to the few swimming medals won by his home nation of India with a bronze medal performance. Sejwal clocked in at 28.26, precisely one one-hundredth slower than what he swam in prelims to come into the race as the second seed.

Women’s 200 Back

• World Record: 2:04.06 – Missy Franklin, USA (2012)
  
• Asian Record: 2:06.46 – Zhao Jing, China (2010)
  
• Asian Games Record: 2:06.46 – Zhao Jing, China (2010)
  

Sayaka Akase of Japan was able to spoil a Chinese victory as the Chinese women have been absolutely dominant here over the course of the meet.

Akase had to hold off a charging Jie Chen to out-touch her 2:10.31 to 2:10.53 to take home the gold and make sure Chen had to settle for the silver. Akase had a huge lead for the majority of the race, however, Chen came flying into the wall during the last 50 to out-split Akase 32.75 to 34.26.

Third was Thi Anh Vien Nguyen of Vietnam finishing not far behind the two leaders in 2:12.25. That’s Nguyen’ second medal of the meet as she also earned a bronze medal in the 400m IM.

Prior to this meet, Vietnam had never won a swimming medal at the Asian Games. Now with the likes of Nugyen she’s added two swimming medals to Vietnam’s haul, making history in the process.

Men’s 1500 Free (fastest heat)

• World Record: 14:31.02 – Sun Yang, China (2012)
  
• Asian Record: 14:31.02 – Sun Yang, China (2012)
  
• Asian Games Record: 14:35.43 – Sun Yang, China (2010)
  

Sun Yang cruised to a comfortable victory in the final of the 1500m freestyle touching well off his best time to win gold in 14:49.75. Yang led from start-to-finish, and with him for the most part was Kohei Yamamoto of Japan.

Yang and Yamamoto were way out in front of the rest of the field; ultimately Yamamoto did touch second just over five seconds behind Yang in 14:54.86.

Kecheng Wang of China finished third keeping Korea’s Park Tae Hwan off of the podium as he finished fourth in 15:12.15.

Women’s 200 IM

• World Record: 2:06.15 – Ariana Kukors, USA (2009)
  
• Asian Record: 2:07.57 – Ye Shiwen, China (2012)
  
• Asian Games Record: 2:09.37 – Ye Shiwen, China (2010)
  

Ye Shiwen of China was able to repeat as Asian Games champion, bettering her own Asian Games record of 2:09.37 with a winning time of 2:08.94. This now marks two games in a row where Shiwen won double gold in the IM swims. She’ll leave this meet with three gold medals, two in the IMs and one for swimming on the winning 4x100m freestyle relay.

Second tonight in the 200 IM was Kanako Watanabe of Japan who was over a second and a half behind Shiwen with a time of 2:10.58. Her Japanese teammate Miho Teramura rounded out the top three with a 2:11.24 performance.

Men’s 4×100 Medley Relay

• World Record: 3:27.28 – USA (2009)
  
• Asian Record: 3:30.74 – Japan (2009)
  
• Asian Games Record: 3:34.10 – Japan (2010)
  

The Japanese were undoubtedly favorited to win this race, and after 300m it seemed as though they would, however Zetao Ning of China had other plans as he blasted a 46.91 anchor leg to catch the Japanese team and claim gold for China.

With Ning’s freestyle split, the Chinese team broke Japan’s Asian Games record with a time of 3:31.37. Japan finished second in 3:31.70.