China's rising star Ning wins men's 100m freestyle at EAG

　　TIANJIN, China, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Asian record holder Ning Zetao claimed his first international gold medal at the 6th East Asian Games here on Sunday by winning men's 100 meters freestyle in 48.41 seconds, 0.14 shy of a new record.

　　China is leading the tally with 20 gold, 12 silver, and 8 bronze medals, followed by Japan with 9-14-13 and Hong Kong, China 0-2-5, South Korea 0-1-3.

　　Ning, who set a new Asian record of 48.27 one month ago at the Chinese National Games in Shenyang and a 47.44 split in the 4x100m free relay last night, claimed the title at 48.41, 0.14 seconds shy of his own record. Katsumi Nakamura of Japan and Lv Zhiwu of China finished second and third in 49.23 and 49.67, respectively.

　　"I expected to create a new record. It is a pity I just missed it. But I am happy with the result since I had a good transition from the National Games to the East Asian Games. It's my first international event. I hope I can compete in more high-level international events for China in the near future," Ning said.

　　Ning later joined Chinese quartet in the 4X100m medley relay and swam a 47.31 freestyle split, finishing second in 3:35.43 behind Japan's 3:34.63. South Korea won the bronze in 3:40.82.

　　Fu Yuanhui and Zhou Yanxin gave China a 1-2 finish in the women's 100m backstroke in 1:00.75 and 1:01.76 while Xu Jiayu and Cheng Feiyi repeated the same feat in the men's 100m backstroke in 53.90 and 53.92. Xu Danlu and Pang Minxian made it the third time in women's 800mn freestyle in 8:35.54 and 8:35.70.

　　China sealed the victory in the women's 4x100m freestyle in 3:41.64, followed by Japan at 3:44.71 and Hong Kong, China, in 3:45.72.

　　Okazaki Koichiro and Nomura Ryota of Japan wrapped the top places in men's 50m breaststroke in 27.51 and 28.02.

　　The five-day swimming competition at the East Asian Games will come to an end on Oct. 14.