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Popov Popular, Moravcova Brilliant at Shanghai World Cup
Russian swimming great Alexander Popov proved to be the most popular participant while Martina Moravcova of Slovakia was the biggest winner on the opening day of the FINA World Cup series at Shanghai on Friday, December 1.
As Popov's name was aired in the stadium, it immediately caused a big cheering from the local spectators who, in sharp contrast, showed little enthusiasm to the Chinese swimmers.
The Russian star lived up to the expectation as he eased to win his favorite 100m freestyle event, clocking a time of 49.11 seconds in the final.
As Popov walked off the awarding podium, he was soon mobbed by the local media while the fans on the stand cried out "Popov-Popov" to ask for autographs.
Moravcova, who won two silvers in Sydney Olympics, was another star of the night as she swept two golds and one silver to continue her winning momentum.
She timed 01:56.99 to take the women's 200m freestyle final and added another in women's 100m butterfly on a time of 00:58.63. She also captured a silver in women's freestyle with a time of 00:25.32.
On a day with a total of 17 events in action, Davide Cassol of Italy won the men's 50m breaststroke final with a time of 00:28.01.
Chinese Luo Xuejuan timed 01:06.62 to take the gold of the women's 100m breaststroke.
The men's 400m medley title went to Jirka Letzin of Germany, who clocked a winning time of 04:16.04. Chinese Ouyang Kunpeng took the title of men's 100m backstroke on a time of 00:53.74.
Zhan Shu also contributed one gold for China as she posted a time of 00:28.14 to win the women's 50m backstroke final. Wang Hongwei, a swimmer from the local team of Zhejiang, won the men's 200m butterfly on a performance of 01:58.65.
Liang Shuang, from Tianjin, clocked 02:13.32 to claim the gold of the women's 200m medley and Song Xueliang, from Shanghai, touched first with a time of 03:51.76 in the men's 400m freestyle.
Han Xue of China was the winner of women's 50m freestyle with a time of 00:25.30 and Fabio Farabegoli of Italy took the men's 200m breaststroke in a time of 02:10.78.
Chinese Chen Hua, who finished sixth in the Sydney Olympics, won the gold of women's 800m freestyle on 08:28.60 and Zhang Xiao, from Liaonin, timed 00:54.97 to win the men's 100m medley.
Huang Jun, from Guangdong, finished first in the women's 200m backstroke on 02:09.56 and Michael Mintenko of Canada walked away with the title of men's 50m butterfly on 00:24.10.
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