Qi Hui proves her strength at Chinese City Games ( 2003-10-25 00:26) (Xinhua)
The women's 200m breaststroke world record holder Qi Hui proved a class of
her own as she beat the triple world champion Luo Xuejuan in her specialty with
a result of two minutes 25.30 seconds at the fifth Chinese City Games here on
Friday.
The 18-year-old swimmer, bronze medalist at the Barcelona World Championships
in July, left no chance to Luo Xuejuan to win her third title in Changsha after
losing to Luo in the 100m breaststroke on Tuesday.
"No one can compete with me in the 200m breaststroke in China before my
retirement. My current form is much better than when I was in Barcelona though I
caught a cold before coming to Changsha. I really feel good here, " said Qi Hui
at the press conference.
Qi Hui has bagged three golds at the Games so far, including 200m and 400m
individual medley.
"I will still focus on the 200m breaststroke when preparing for the Athens
Olympic Games," she added.
Luo Xuejuan, who grabbed 50m and 100m breaststroke as well as 4x100m medley
relay titles at the Worlds, had to concede a silver in 2:26.06"I am going to
strengthen myself in the 100m breaststroke after the Games for Athens next
year," said Luo.
Yang Yu, women's 400m and 200m freestyle winner at the Game, pulled the third
gold into arms when she beat Cheng Jiaru in the 100m freestyle, clocking 54.99.
The 17-year-old Cheng took silver in 55.29 for Guangzhou and Xu Yanwei third in
55.79.
Wu Peng enjoyed his fourth gold at the Games as he charged to the men's 200m
individual medley in 2:02.26. Zhao Tao from Hefei settled for the second place
in 2:03.76 before winning the men's 200m backstroke in 2:00.72 Friday
evening.
