Sun scorches rivals to win historic Asian swim title

Chinese battering ram Sun Yang smashed his rivals to create history today as the swimming goliath scooped the first-ever Asian Games men's 800 metres freestyle gold with another monstrous performance.

For once though he didn't have it all his own way.

Greeted like a rock star by high-pitched squeals from excitable female fans in Jakarta, the three-time Olympic champion returned to the pool expecting to anchor China to victory in the 4x200m free -- only for the pesky Japanese to tear up the script.

Meanwhile, Japan's Olympic hope Rikako Ikee picked up her second and third Asian titles in the women's 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle.

But it was the talismanic Sun who sprinkled stardust on proceedings as ever, storming to victory in the 800m free in a Games record of seven minutes, 48.36 seconds -- almost five seconds clear of Japan's Shogo Takeda.

He also came agonisingly close to completing a relay fightback.

But Japan's Katsuhiro Matsumoto clung on to seal a fingertip upset in 7:05.17 and dash Sun's hopes of winning five gold medals in Indonesia.

China and Japan finished day two of the six-day meet neck and neck on seven gold medals.

Sun, who powered to the 200m title at the weekend, uncoiled his rippling two-metre frame to pull away over the second half of the 800m, leaving Takeda and Vietnam's Nguyen Huy Hoang flailing in his wake.

"That gives me confidence for 2020 Tokyo Olympics," Sun told reporters.

"It was a pity we lost the relay but Japan swam a great race. Two finals in one night isn't a problem for me but I can still work on my endurance for sure."
- Ikee double -
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"I achieved what I came to do tonight so I'm delighted," said Ikee. "The plan was to conserve energy in the first half of the race and finish strong -- that's exactly what happened."
"I'm delighted," said Wang. "It gives me confidence to beat such a great swimmer."
"I kind of cramped up in the medley," he admitted. "There just wasn't enough in the tank."