China’s Zhang Yufei advances into women’s 100m butterfly semifinals at Tokyo Olympics (updated)

TOKYO, July 24– Zhang Yufei of China clocked 55.82 seconds to enter the women’s 100 m butterfly semifinal, as the first swimming preliminary session kicked off Saturday night at the Tokyo Aquatics Center. I always want to break the world record, “said the 23- year-old Zhang Yufei, adding that she will try best to earn China the first swimming gold at Tokyo 2020..

TOKYO, July 24 (Xinhua) — Zhang Yufei of China clocked 55.82 seconds to enter the women’s 100m butterfly semifinal, as the first swimming preliminary session kicked off Saturday night at the Tokyo Aquatics Center.

World record holder Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden ranked third in the women’s 100 fly heats, while Australian Emma McKeon also finished in 55.82 seconds. American teen Torri Huske and her fellow countrywoman Claire Curzan, who are making their Olympic debut, progressed through with respective times of 56.29 and 57.49.

“I thought it would be faster. I always want to break the world record,” said the 23-year-old Zhang Yufei, adding that she will try best to earn China the first swimming gold at Tokyo 2020.

The world record for women’s 100m fly is 55.48 seconds, held by Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden.

In the men’s 400m individual medley, Brendon Smith of Australia will start as top seed and will be joined by the likes of Chase Kalisz of America, New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt, Alberto Razzetti of Italy, among others.

But the much-anticipated Japanese swimmer and world champion Daita Seto, who claimed a bronze medal at Rio 2016, failed to make the final of the men’s 400m IM. Wang Shun of China also missed out on the final after finishing only 10th in the heats.

“It was very close to the final, but that is the Olympics. The result gave me confidence anyway, and I will do my best in the 200m IM,” said Wang.

In the men’s 400m freestyle, Henning Muhlleitner of Germany topped the heats in 3 minutes 43.67 seconds. Felix Auboeck of Austria and Gabriele Detti of Italy also qualified for the final.

Defending champion Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu of Hungary finished 7th in 4 minutes 36.01 seconds in the women’s 400m IM heats. She will be aged 32 years and 83 days on the day of the 400m IM final on Sunday. She can become the second-oldest female to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming, after 33-year-old Dara Torres won gold in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay and women’s 4x100m medley relay in 2000.

America’s Emma Weyant ranked first in 4 minutes 33.55 seconds in the women’s 400m IM. Aimee Willmott placed second.

Yan Zibei of China reached the semifinals as the fifth in the men’s 100 breaststroke. Defending champion Adam Peaty of Britain looks to be the heavy favorite for the gold as he finished first in 57.56 seconds.

China also reached the final of women’s 100m freestyle relay on July 25. Enditem