China’s Olympic star Ye Shiwen swept effortlessly to the quickest heat time in the women’s 200 metres medley on the final morning of the Asian Games swimming competition Friday.
After having their noses bloodied by Japan over the first two days in Incheon, regional superpower China will go into the final session leading their fierce rivals 18-11 in gold medals.
Ye, remarkably still just 18, posted a time of two minutes 11.20 seconds and the 400m world record holder will be odds-on to complete the double, as she did in London two years ago and in Guangzhou at the last Asian Games in 2010.
Fellow Olympic champion Sun Yan will be an overwhelming favourite to defend his 1,500 metres freestyle title, with local hero Park Tae-Hwan struggling after failing to win all three individual events he entered.
Japan’s new breaststroke star Yasuhiro Koseki, upset in the 100 and 200m, topped the time-sheets in the 50m in 27.92 from India’s Sandeep Sejwal. Dmitriy Balandin was fourth quickest as he bids for an astonishing clean sweep.
Miki Uchida, bronze medallist in the women’s 100m freestyle, gave Japan another fastest qualifier in the 50m in 25.35.
Sayaka Akase also qualified quickest in the 200m backstroke as Japan’s female swimmers look to make a late bid to salvage pride after being outgunned 13-3 by the Chinese women in gold medals so far
Japan’s men lead the Chinese 8-5 going into the final evening.