China swimmers leave rivals in slipstream

DOHA, Dec 2 (Reuters) Pang Jiaying won the first of China's five swimming gold medals at the 15th Asian Games today with an emphatic victory in the women's 200m freestyle.

Pang broke clear of the field with 50m remaining to win in a time of 1:59.26, beating team mate and defending champion Yang Yu into second place with Japan's Maki Mita taking the bronze.

A relay silver medallist at the Athens Olympics, Pang said the one-two punch showed Chinese swimmers were working towards success together, rather than as individuals.

''I'm very excited about this gold medal and very satisfied by my performance,'' Pang said.

''We always encourage each other and have common goals.

Whoever wins we are satisfied. It is China who will be the winner,'' she said, adding that she was confident of winning gold in Beijing in 2008.

China boosted its mushrooming medal tally with four more golds in the pool through Wu Peng in the men's 200m butterfly, Zhou Yafei in the women's 100m butterfly, Ji Liping in the 50m breaststroke and the women's 4x100m medley relay.

Sano Hidemasa got Japan off the mark in the men's 400m individual medley, opening up an unassailable lead from the gun to finish ahead of compatriot Shinya Taniguchi in 4:16.18.

Hidemasa piled on the pressure during his strong butterfly and backstroke legs and hung on for victory.

''I'm very happy to win, because I know China and Japan are challenging each other,'' he said.

''I played to my strengths successfully and this gold medal will help to advance our medals tally.'' South Korea's Han Kyu-chul took the bronze.

REUTERS AY RK2345