Ouyang Kunpeng has set a new Asian record in men's 200m backstroke, while Qu Jingyu renewed the national record in men's 200m individual medley.

Ouyang Kunpeng (Photo: Xinhua)

Ouyang Kunpeng, 23, from Jiangxi, rewrote the Asian record for the second time to win the men's 200m backstroke, adding a second gold to his 100m backstroke title, finishing a time of one minute 57.91 seconds, 0.81 seconds faster than the former record.

Ouyang won the 100m backstroke by clocking 54.09 seconds, slashing 0.27 seconds off the previous Asian record last Saturday.

"The 200 meters backstroke is a long-distance event for me, which took my concentration in the last half year. Shanghai swimmer Wang (the silver winner) was so fast today, and I had to try my best to catch up with him," said Ouyang Kunpeng, a multiplegold-taker in backstroke at national championships and Asian games,who had just broke the 50m backstroke Asia record in April.

Wang Wei from Shanghai followed the suit in 100m backstroke to take a second silver, clocking 1:50.01, 1.10 seconds ahead of Zhang Bodong, the bronze winner from Chinese Army.

Qu Jingyu from Chinese Army took the men's 200m individual medley with a new national record of two minutes 0.59 seconds.

Qu, 19, came up to front only at the last lag and powered down the stretch to touch wall first, cutting 0.49 seconds off the national record.

"I did not expect to win this time. My best swim before was ranked third, and the win might be attributed to my systematic and proper training. I used to implement the tactics to rush up first,but I arranged my strength evenly this time and finally won the race," said Qu.

Wu Peng, four-time gold medallist at the games, finished secondin 2:01.40, while Zhao Tao, also from Chinese Army, was third in 2:01.54.

Chinese Army swimmer Qi Hui won the duel against Luo Xuejuan, the Athens gold medallist in 100m breaststroke, to win her third gold in Women' s 200m breaststroke.

Qi came to the lead only at the last lag to finish first in a time of 2 minutes 22.14 seconds.

"The gold came just as I expected. I was in good form here and enjoyed a few sound results in the last few years, so I was quite satisfied with everything now. so long, so good, " said Qi, the Asian record holder, who had won 14 titles in World Cup short course series from 1999 on.

Luo Xuejuan, the 100m breaststroke winner at the games, was second 2.36 seconds behind Qi.

"It was my honor to stand on podium with Qi Hui and Luo Nan again at nationals. We are so familiar with each other and also know each other well," said Luo, five-time world champion gold medallist. "I did not think the lane two is a problem for me because I had the experience in lane one before."

"I will go to the East Asian games in Macao after the national games and will show my best there, and then I really want a holiday, which is likely to come after the East Asian games. Afterthe holiday, I will be occupied with the Olympic preparatory training."

The reigning champion Luo Nan from Liaoning settled with third in 2:27.40 seconds.

Shanghai swimmers swept the women's 100m freestyle top three with Zhu Yingwen finishing first in a time of 54.03 seconds, 0.02 outside the national record.

Zhu Yingwen celebrates after winning the women’s 100m freesytle in the pool in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, yesterday. Shanghai made a clean sweep of the medals in the event.—Xinhua

"This is my first gold out of three national games and this is also my best time in the event, so it's a lucky day for me, " said 24-year-old Zhu.

Zhu's teammates in relays Xu Yanwei and Pang Jiaying came in second and third with a time of 54.15 seconds and 54.55 seconds respectively.

Shanghai had taken two freestyle relay golds before the women's 100m free title.