A total of 10 swimming Asian records were smashed at 11th the Chinese National Games after national champion Chen Qian renewed Asian best to win the women's 800m freestyle final on Friday. The 16-year-old Chen roared to the victory in 8:20.36, knocking over three seconds off the Asian record of 8:23.68 held by Japanese swimmer Yamada Sachiko for five years.
The silver went to Li Xuanxu from central China' Hunan province, winner of the 400m individual medley with new Asian record, who clocked 8:24.94.
Li Mo from east China's Shandong province settled for bronze in 8:26.35.
Shandong's Chen Qian waves to the audience after winning the women's 800m freestyle final of swimming at the 11th Chinese National Games in Jinan, east China's Shandong province, Oct. 23, 2009. Chen clocked 8 minutes 20.36 seconds to win the title and exceeded the Asian record of the event
So far altogether 10 Asian records had been established in swimming events at the on-going Chinese National Games.
Earlier China's Olympic champion Liu Zige had even set a new world record in the 200m butterfly final in 2:01.81, over two seconds faster than previous world best set by Australian Jessica Schipper at the Rome World Championships.
Other winners of Friday's swimming competitions include world champion Zhao Jing in the women's 200m backstroke, Asian champion Zhou Jiawei in the men's 100m butterfly, and bronze medalist of Doha Asian Games Cai Li in the men's 50m freestyle.
In the men's 100m butterfly final, Zhou Jiawei chalked up 51.24 seconds to equal Asian record and break his own national record of 51.36 set at last year's National Championships.
Saturday will see the last day's swimming competition at the National Games, in which Olympic runner-up Zhang Lin will fight for his fourth gold.