China's Wang retains 200m im title, two world records renewed at Short-course Hangzhou worlds

Chinese swimmer Wang Shun retained his 200m individual medley title at the Fina Swimming World Championships (25m) in Hangzhou on Tuesday, while two world records were renewed.

Wang, who won the gold two years ago in Windsor, finished first in one minute 51.01 seconds, 1.68 seconds faster than Josh Prenot of the United States. Japan's Hiromasa Fujimori was third in 1:52.73.

"I am so excited today," said the 24-year-old Wang. "I achieved my aim. I am very happy that I retained the title and improved my time."

"I will do my best in the following events and I hope I can swim my pb," he added.

Japanese swimmer Seto Daiya broke the men's 200-meter butterfly world record. Seto touched the wall first with 1:48.24 seconds, while former world record holder South Africa's Chad Le Clos trailed in 1:48.32. China's Li Zhuhao was third in 1:50.39.

"I didn't expect the world record," said Seto. "Now I will focus on the 400m im, and I hope I can break the 400m im world record also."

Li was happy with his bronze. "This is my first medal at Worlds," he said. "It means a lot. "

The United States broke the men's 4X100m relay world record in 3:03.03. Russia and Brazil were the second and third respectively. The United States also won the women's 4X100m relay title in 3:27.78.

China's 16-year-old Wang Jianjiahe ranked fifth in the women's 200m freestyle final. Wang is the rising star of the team as she broke the 400m short-course world record at the Swimming World Cup in Budapest in October.

Australia's Ariarne Titmus won the gold in 1:51.38, while Mallory Comerford of the United States trailed in 1:51.81. Femke Heemskerk of the Netherlands came third in 1:52.36.

The men's 400m freestyle gold was clinched by Lithuania's Danas Rapsys with a time of 3:34.01. Norway's Henrik Christiansen took the silver in 3:36.64, and the bronze went to Gabriele Detti of Italy who finished in 3:37.54.

In the women's 400m im, Hungary's swimming star Katinka Hosszu won the gold in 4:21.40. Melanie Margalis of the United States took the silver in 4:25.84 while Fantine Lesaffre of France came third in 4:27.31.

Also on Tuesday, China's Xu Jiayu topped the men's 100m backstroke semifinal with a time of 49.21.