Zhu Qianwei wins first swimming gold at Asian Games

Zhu Qianwei of China celebrates after women's 200m freestyle final of swimming at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 13, 2010. Zhu Qianwei claimed the title with 1 minute 56.65 seconds. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

GUANGZHOU, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Zhu Qianwei of China won the first swimming gold at the 16th Asian Games here on Saturday as she snatched the women's 200-meter freestyle title.

Zhu touched the wall in one minute and 56.65 seconds, while her teammate Tang Yi took second in 1:57.08.

Ito Hanae of Japan finished third in 1:58.24.

"I am satisfied with my performance," said Zhu, winner of the 4x200m freestyle relay at 2009 Rome world championships and runner-up of the event at Beijing Olympics.

"The training had been quite tough before the Asian Games and my coach was worried about my health. He didn't want me to train too hard before the event but I am always eager to practise. Now I am happy to be rewarded for that."

"I hope I can compete with more rivals of quality in the future," she added.

Tang, 17, winner of the 4x100m freesytle relay at Doha Asian Games, said she was too tired to perform her best.

"I was just too tired and couldn't produce the finish that I wanted at the end of the race," said the hot favorite before the event.