GUANGZHOU, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese swimmer Gao Chang claimed the women's 50-meter backstroke gold at Guangzhou Asian Games here on Monday.
Gao, 23, silver medallist of the event at Doha Asian Games, touched the wall first in 27.45 seconds, beating archrival Aya Terakawa, the silver medallist, by 0.41 second.
Xu Tianlongzi, 19, runner-up of the 100m backstroke at Doha Asian Games, took the bronze in 28.14.
Japan's 19-year-old 100m and 200m backstroke short-course world record holder Shiho Sakai only managed a fourth finish in 28.17.
"I didn't do very well in training before the Asian Games," said Gao, bronze medallist of the event at 2009 Rome Worlds. "Before the Games my coach said I was too slow on my start, so I practised it a lot."
"The result is my personal best," said the winner. "It is also the world best result this year. I am very happy."
Terakawa, winner of the 50m and 100m backstroke at Pan Pacific championships in August, said:"My start was OK. I improved a lot compared to my time in the heat. But I feel sad to lose the gold."
"Gao is very good in both strength and speed," she added. "I will keep improving myself."
It was the second medal Terakawa took in Guangzhou as she also won a bronze in 200m backstroke on Sunday.
