Ledecky betters own freestyle record

Kazan, August 3

American teenager Katie Ledecky bettered her own 1500 metres freestyle world record with a superb display during the morning heats at the World Championships.

The 18-year-old, who won women's 400m freestyle gold on Sunday, recorded 15 minutes 27.71 seconds to lower her previous mark, set at the Pan Pacific Championships in August 2014, by 0.65 seconds.

Ledecky was inside world record pace throughout her preliminary heat as the American finished 28.81 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor, Jessica Ashwood, the Australian who qualified third fastest for Monday's final.

It was the fourth time that Ledecky has broken her own 1500m freestyle record. She first set the mark at the 2013 world championships, smashing compatriot Kate Ziegler's previous time from 2007 —15:42.54 — by over six seconds.

Hungary's Katinka Hosszu, the 2014 World Swimmer of the Year, continued to set personal records after two days of competition. She postedthe fastest qualifying time in the women’s 100 metres backstroke heats.

The 26-year-old underlined her status as the leading all-round swimmer with a world record in the women's 200 metres individual medley. Hosszu clocked two minutes 6.12 seconds as the 26-year-old not only defended her title but shaved 0.03 seconds off the previous mark set by American Ariana Kukors at the 2009 world championships. Yuliya Efimova topped preliminary qualification in the women’s 100m breaststroke. — Reuters

Sun Yang storms into semifinals; India’s D’Souza fails to qualify

Chinese swimming star Sun Yang (in pic) eased into the men's 200 metres freestyle semifinal. Sun led the overall rankings of the preliminary with one minute and 46.00 seconds, 0.1 second faster than British Jame Guy, who trailed him to take a silver in the 400m free final. German Olympic champion Paul Biedermann came third in 1:46.20. China's Fu Yuanhui and Chen Jie made the women's 100m backstroke semis while the preliminary was led by Hungary's Katinka Hosszu in 58.78.

India’s Aaron D'Souza failed to qualify for the men's 200 metres freestyle semifinal. D'Souza was part of Heat 2 and finished an overall 56th out of 80 participants in the preliminary stage at the Kazan Arena. The 23-year-old Indian completed the first 50m in a quick 25.88 seconds but wasted all his energy in a spurt to slow down in the rest of the 150m. He completed the next 50m in 27.93 seconds and went even slower (29.16) to complete 150m. D'Souza completed the last 50m in 29.03 seconds to finish the race in a minute and 52 seconds, six seconds slower than Sun Yang. — Reuters/IANS

Sun Yang storms into semifinals; India’s D’Souza fails to qualify

• Chinese swimming star Sun Yang (in pic) eased into the men's 200 metres freestyle semifinal. Sun led the overall rankings of the preliminary with one minute and 46.00 seconds, 0.1 second faster than British Jame Guy, who trailed him to take a silver in the 400m free final. German Olympic champion Paul Biedermann came third in 1:46.20. China's Fu Yuanhui and Chen Jie made the women's 100m backstroke semis while the preliminary was led by Hungary's Katinka Hosszu in 58.78.
• India’s Aaron D'Souza failed to qualify for the men's 200 metres freestyle semifinal. D'Souza was part of Heat 2 and finished an overall 56th out of 80 participants in the preliminary stage at the Kazan Arena. The 23-year-old Indian completed the first 50m in a quick 25.88 seconds but wasted all his energy in a spurt to slow down in the rest of the 150m. He completed the next 50m in 27.93 seconds and went even slower (29.16) to complete 150m. D'Souza completed the last 50m in 29.03 seconds to finish the race in a minute and 52 seconds, six seconds slower than Sun Yang. — Reuters/IANS