Zhang Celebrates Birthday with Two Titles at National Swimming

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 25, 2002

Zhang Celebrates Birthday with Two Titles at National Swimming

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Teenager Zhang Tianyi grabbed two golds on the opening day of the Chinese National Swimming Championships Wednesday in Anshan while Wu Peng collected another two titles with one national-record performance.

Zhang, 14, won the women's 200 meters butterfly in two minutes 11.24 seconds, beating veteran Liu Yin into second. In the 400m individual medley, she dominated since the second segment of backstroke before easing to a victory in a time of 4:45.17.

"It's my first victory in the national meet. It's an unexpected gift for my 14th birthday. I had never dreamed to win a gold double," said Zhang.

Wu, who scored a clear-cut victory in the men's 400m medley in 4:21.59 earlier, started a spurt in the last 200 meters to clock a winning time of 8:07.79 in 800m freestyle, shaving nearly 5 seconds off the previous mark.

Ji Zhixiang, who led most of the event, had to settle for a silver in 8:10.84, also within the national-record pace.

World short-course bronze medalist Xu Yanwei claimed the crown in the women's 100m freestyle in 54.82, beating the closest rival Zuo Dandan by a body length.

In other events, Cheng Jiaru came first in the women's 50m backstroke in 28.84; Ouyang Kunpeng took gold in the men's 100m butterfly in 54.13 and Yu Daqing won the men's 50m breaststroke in 29.13.

Newly-crowned world champions Qi Hui, Yang Yu, Luo Xuejuan and Chen Hua will defend their titles during the four-day national swimming meet which features 40 events.

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