(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Fawad Hussain I The Peninsula
Doha: It was a full house yesterday at the Hamad Aquatic Centre and the fans got what they expected the new World Cup records.
Swedish speedster Sarah Sjostrom and American star Blake Pieroni were the ones who provided the fans with the most thrilling action on the second day of FINA Swimming World Cup 2018 - Doha edition. Young Qatari swimmers also looked in good form.
Sjostrom, the leader in the overall rankings this season, set a new World Cup record in women's 50m butterfly, bettering her own Kazan feat after clocking 25.22. In Kazan last week, she marked a time of 25.39.
'I am very happy that I could improve my time from Kazan. My only goal is to keep improving. I wanted to go under 25 today but it's ok, said Sjostrom.
It was the second gold of the day for the Swedish sprint queen as she also clinched the 200m freestyle title with a time of 1:56.32.
America's Pieroni was also in top form yesterday as he stormed to victory in men's 100m freestyle in 48.11, marking a new World Cup record. South African star Chad Le Clos held the previous record of 48.16 for his run in Moscow in August 2015.
'It's second fastest time of my life. I am super happy. It's definitely one of my favourites events and I really enjoyed my run in Doha, said the American swimmer, who defeated Russia's Vladimir Morozov (48.43), and Belgium's Pieter Timmers (49.04) in the event.
Hungary's ‘Iron Lady', Katinka Hosszu also excelled on the second day, bagging four more medals including two gold medals, a silver medal and a bronze medal.
She won the women's 400m individual medley and women's 100m backstroke titles besides finishing third in women's 200m freestyle. Hosszu was also a part of Hungarian team, which claimed silver medal in mixed 4x100m freestyle event.
'I am very happy with my times in Doha. I am enjoying my medal winning performances. I am thankful to fans here who are giving me energy, Hosszu, who now has four gold medals in the Doha meeting, said.
In men's 500m, Spain's Marcos Gil Corbacho was the winner in 15:28.19, with his team-mate Ferran Julia Tous (15:42.84), and China's Lin Zheqi 15:57.24 finishing in second and third positions respectively.
Promising Qatari swimmer Salah Kareem Salama also impressed in the tough middle distance race, grabbing the 6th position with a time of 17:31.34.
Australia's Mitchell Larkin was the winner in men's 200m Individual Medley with a time of 1:59.14. Ecuador's Tomas Peribonio, who won the heats in the morning, earned the second spot with a time of 2:00.40, while Russia's Kirill Prigoda took bronze with a time of 2:03.47.
Young Qatari talent Abdulaziz Al Obaidly finished the star-studded race in a respectable 7th position with a time of 2:13.86.
Another highlight of the day was Michael Andrew's win in men's 50m backstroke in which the American swimmer clocked 24.49 to beat Morozov, who finished second with a time of 24.79. Australia's Larkin was third with a time of 25.15.
The three-day event will conclude today with 12 finals scheduled for the day. The Cluster winners will also be announced.
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