Olympic swimming champ Sun Yang gears up for Asiad

China's Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang says he is ready for his third Asian Games after he arrived here on Wednesday for his first training appearance.

Sun, a three-time Olympic champion, will compete in the men's 200, 400, 800 and 1500 meters freestyle events in Jakarta, reports Xinhua news agency.

"It is my third Asiad, as I had competed in 2010 and 2014. I will face a new challenge in the six-day competition, as the 800m freestyle has been added to the Asian Games for the first time. I will be busier than ever," said the 27-year-old.

Sun revealed that he had trained in Singapore and Hong Kong for preparation before the Games.

"I changed my training focus from short-mid distance to mid-long distance. That was a big change and I need more time to recover after every session of training. It is like building a house -- I am laying the foundations and then adding floors step by step."

Sun also reduced his strokes and improved his start and turns during training. "The pace of the short distance is different from long distance. So I tried to reduce my strokes by increasing my efficiency. I think I am in better shape than I was last year before the FINA World Championships," said Sun, who won in the 200 and 400m freestyle in Budapest.

Discussing the facilities at the Gelora Bung Kamo-Aquatic Center, Sun said he felt comfortable with the pool.

"The venue is great and I can breathe fresh air. The water temperature and light are also comfortable. The most important thing is to show my best and work out a suitable competition strategy for myself. I am hungry for victory, not only in the Asian Games, but also the World Championships and Olympic Games," he said.

The 2018 Asian Games open on August 18 and end on September 2.

--IANS

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