China swim sensation, 13, sets Games record after Japan win early

Manila Times - Sep 20, 2026

NAGOYA, Japan — The 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi set an Asian Games record as she scorched to gold on Sunday's first full day of competition, after hosts Japan celebrated early success. The first gold medal of the 20th edition of the two-week multisport extravaganza went to Japan's Takumi Hojo in the men's individual triathlon. In the evening it was over to Yu as the schoolgirl who turns 14 next month took the women's 200m butterfly crown in a Games-record 2min 05.08sec. It was the first major title of her young career, less than two years out from the Los Angeles Olympics. "It was only so-so," a smiling Yu said after receiving her medal, warning she can go faster yet. Yu became the youngest medalist in swimming world championships history last year when she took home relay bronze aged 12. Swimming is one of three sports at the Games taking place in Tokyo, where a typhoon is due to blow in, with the rest of the Games unfolding in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture. China are expected to be the preeminent power in the pool and they showed why on day one as they clinched six of the seven titles on the night. - 'Beautiful' - The Games were declared...

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