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New Straits Times
2 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
China prodigy takes on swimming world aged 12
BEIJING: Yu Zidi discovered swimming as a small child in order to cool off and now aged just 12 the Chinese sensation will showcase her prodigious talents at the world championships from tomorrow. The school girl with the cartoon dog themed swimming cap stunned the sport in May with a series of eye-popping times at China's national championships. Yu, who turns 13 in October, clocked a blistering 2min 10.63sec in the women's 200m individual medley, the fastest time in history at that age. She then romped to victory in the 400m medley in 4:35.53, which would have been enough for fourth place at the Paris Olympics last summer. Yu also triumphed in the 200m butterfly in another scarcely believable swim that would again have only narrowly missed out on a medal in Paris. Her performances easily qualified her for the world championships in Singapore. Yu, who trains in the northern province of Hebei and juggles swimming with her school work, took up the sport as a means of escaping China's searing heat. "The summer that year was too hot, so I went to the water park with my dad," she told the state news agency Xinhua. "I often went to cool off at swimming pools... (and) a coach discovered me." Swimming, homework and coping with the pressure of being China's latest big sporting hope makes for a hectic schedule for the youngster. "I am very busy every day and I don't have much time, but it's also very fulfilling," Yu said, according to Xinhua. Yu first came to national attention last year and drew comparisons at home to Ye Shiwen, who at 16 in London became the youngest Chinese swimmer to win a medal at the Olympics. As well as her speed and stamina, Yu's Hebei coach Li Chao has praised her "good sense" and said her focus "far exceeds her peers." Michael Bohl, China's storied Australian swimming coach, went much further. "I've never seen a 12-year-old that could swim like this," he told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV in May. Perhaps with an eye on the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, China have named their youngest squad for a swimming world championships, according to expert website SwimSwam. Along with Yu, the headline acts in the squad are men's 100m freestyle world record holder and Olympic champion Pan Zhanle, and Qin Haiyang and Zhang Yufei. Qin cleaned up in the breaststroke at the worlds in 2023, only to fail to win a medal in individual events at the Paris Games last summer. He did though win gold and silver in medley relays. "Butterfly Queen" Zhang has won 10 Olympic medals, among them 200m fly gold at Tokyo in 2021. China entered the Paris Olympics under a doping cloud following revelations that 23 of its swimmers had tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the Tokyo Games. In April 2024, The New York Times and German broadcaster ARD said they had tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) at a domestic competition in late 2020 and early 2021. Chinese anti-doping authorities determined the 23 had ingested trace amounts of the drug unwittingly from tainted food at their hotel. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted that explanation and did not sanction the swimmers, which led US anti-doping authorities to accuse WADA of a cover-up. WADA denies this. Nine of the swimmers who failed doping tests are competing in Singapore, including Qin and Zhang.
Evening Standard
2 minutes ago
- Evening Standard
Lions vs Australia: Second Test kick-off time, TV channel, live stream, team news, lineups, h2h, odds today
Having beaten the First Nations and Pasifika XV in midweek, the Lions have now won all seven matches they have played on Australian soil. They are looking to become the first Lions side to go unbeaten overseas in a tour since the 1974 squad did so in South Africa.
India.com
3 minutes ago
- India.com
Top 8 Batters With Most Runs In First Innings Of A Test Match: Sachin Tendulkar Leads, Joe Root Enters Elite Club
photoDetails english 2937114 Updated:Jul 26, 2025, 11:52 AM IST Sachin Tendulkar - 5,608 Runs 1 / 9 The God of Cricket leads the elite list with 5,608 runs in the first innings of Tests, achieving this milestone in 91 innings. His consistency at the top set the foundation for India's dominance. Ricky Ponting - 5,403 Runs 2 / 9 Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting follows closely with 5,403 runs in 92 innings, known for his aggressive yet dependable batting style in crucial opening stints. Steve Smith - 5,274 Runs 3 / 9 Modern-day Test legend Steve Smith has amassed 5,274 runs in just 71 innings, showcasing his unmatched ability to dictate terms early in the game. Steve Waugh - 4,855 Runs 4 / 9 Australian great Steve Waugh takes the fourth spot with 4,855 runs in 94 innings, often anchoring his side with gritty and determined knocks. Jacques Kallis - 4,317 Runs 5 / 9 The legendary South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis scored 4,317 runs in the first innings from 80 innings, combining solid defense with elegance. Rahul Dravid - 4,121 Runs 6 / 9 Known as 'The Wall', Indian batting maestro Rahul Dravid accumulated 4,121 runs in 75 innings, providing reliability when it mattered most. Allan Border - 4,056 Runs 7 / 9 Former Australian captain Allan Border makes the list with 4,056 runs in 87 innings, remembered for his leadership and fighting spirit. Joe Root - 4,023 Runs 8 / 9 England's Test stalwart Joe Root is the only active player on the list, scoring 4,023 runs in 84 innings. Root's adaptability and consistency keep him among cricket's all-time greats. 9 / 9 All Images:- X, ESPNcricinfo
