National Games: Zhang, 18, upstages Pan Zhanle, Sun Yang – but Pan wins relay gold
Youngster triumphs in men’s 400 metres freestyle in Shenzhen, while first weightlifting and dressage medals are decided
The National Games’ swimming events began in Shenzhen on Monday with a highly anticipated clash of generations between Pan Zhanle and Sun Yang – but both were put in the shade by a rising star.
Pan and Sun, two of China’s most talked-about swimmers of recent years, earned places in men’s 400 metres freestyle final, but neither mounted a challenge for the podium and it was 18-year-old Zhang Zhanshuo who took gold, in record-breaking fashion.
Zhang clocked three minutes and 42.82 seconds to smash his own world junior record, set just two months ago. The Shandong native finished nearly five seconds ahead of Hubei’s Xu Haibo in second, with Zhejiang’s Fei Liwei claiming bronze.
Pan is the world record-holder in the 100m freestyle, in which he was world and Olympic champion last year, but he managed only fifth place here in 3:48.93, over a less favoured distance for him.