Zhang Yufei takes China's 1st medal at FINA short-course championships
CGTN
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(L-R) Tied gold medalists Torri Huske of the United States, Margaret MacNeil of Canada and bronze medalist Zhang Yufei of China pose during the award ceremony for the women's 50m butterfly final at the 2022 FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Australia, December 14, 2022. (Photo: CFP)

China's Olympic champion Zhang Yufei took Team China's first medal, a bronze, in women's 50m butterfly at the ongoing FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Melbourne, Australia on Wednesday.

Despite little competition experience in the short-course, Zhang renewed her personal best of 24.71 which also tied the Asian record. Canada's Maggie MacNeil and U.S. swimmer Torri Huske tied for gold with a time of 24.64.

Zhang said the game helped her learn lessons, "50m is a very short distance, so it requires high standard to touch the shore in butterfly stroke. You cannot make any mistakes in any movement, but I didn't deliver perfectly."

In the women's 100m breaststroke, Tang Qianting from China tied for second place with Lara van Niekerk of South Africa in the first semi-final with an impressive time of 1:04.36 to qualify for the final on Thursday.

China's Tang Qianting competes in the women's 100m breaststroke heats at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Melbourne, Australia, December 14, 2022. (Photo: CFP)

Host Australia enjoyed a gold rush and capped off day two with a world record time of 7:30.87 in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay.

In the women's 800m freestyle, rising Australian star Lani Pallister dominated with a convincing victory to prove her proficiency at distance swimming. She led throughout to win gold with a personal best time of 8:04.07 to add to her victory in the 400m freestyle on day one.

Australia's Kaylee McKeown overcame a slow start in the women's 100m backstroke to finish strong and win gold narrowly ahead of compatriot Mollie O'Callaghan, while Claire Curzan from the United States claimed bronze.

Meanwhile, U.S. swimmer Ryan Murphy won gold in the men's 100m backstroke and also helped the U.S. set a world record in the mixed 4x50m medley relay

Earlier, Australia swimmers set a new world record in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay at 3:25.43 for the gold while Italy shattered the men's mark with 3:02.75 for their victory.