OSAKA, Japan. May 26. JAPANESE swimmers took four of the six events contested on the final day of the East Asian Games in Osaka, to cap a very successful meet.<\/p>\n
The hosts won all three women's events today, sweeping the top two spots in two of them.<\/p>\n
In the 200m baackstroke, up-and-comer Reiko Nakamura won in a swift 2:10.99, followed exactly two seconds later by her teammate, Aya Terakawa (2:12.99). China's Zhan Shu, who was spectacular as a 13 year-old more than three years ago, then disappeared, finished third in 2:14.02.<\/p>\n
The 200 fly was much the same story, with Yuko Nakanishi winning gold in 2:10.26, followed by Asako Kitada two seconds behind (2:12.01). Korea's Kyung-Rang Park won the bronze, though Australia's lara Davenport, swimming unofficially, actually finished third.<\/p>\n
Sumika Minamoto pulled a mild upset when she won the 50m free in 25.41, well off the national record of 25.11 she swam last month. In the process, she beat China's Xu Yanwei, 25.53, who won the 100 meters earlier in the meet. Veteran Han Xue was third.<\/p>\n
On the men's side, Japan won the 400m medley relay in a national record 3:38.88 – a time that would have placed them fifth at last year's Olympic Games – beating a tough Australian team that finsihed in 3:40.11. China was a distant third. Australia had won both freestyle relays and was looking for a sweep of the relay events.<\/p>\n
Atsushi Nishikori (56.05) gave Japan a narrow lead over Australia\u2019s Beau Mannix (56.30) in the opening backstroke leg, before Kosuke Kitajima (1:00.21) went up against Australia\u2019s latest star Jimmy Piper (1:01.12), in the breaststroke. Takashi Yamamoto (52.33) lengthened the lead in the butterfly leg, outswimming Burl Reid, 52.33 to 52.62.<\/p>\n
It was all left to Van Der Zant and Japan\u2019s freestyle sprinter Yoshihiro Okumura, with a powerful turn from the Japanese champion sealing the victory for the host nation. Okumura split 50.29 and Van Der Zant 50.07 in a thrilling finale to the six-day meet.<\/p>\n
China's Zheng Shibin won a slow 1500 meters, touching in 15:29.39, to outlast Korea's Kyu-Chul Han, at 15:31.09. Japan's Shunichi Fujita was third, just a touch ahead of Australia's Andrew Affleck.<\/p>\n
Robbie Van Der Zant emerged as Australia's star of the Games after winning his fourth event. Van Der Zant, one of Australia\u2019s two co-captains, swam a perfect race to win his specialty, the 200m individual medley in 2:01.97, the second fastest time of his career. Japan's
\nTakahiro Mori was a close second (2:02.25) followed by China\u2019s Xie Xuefeng (2:03.34).<\/p>\n
Van Der Zant swam brilliantly, coming from fifth at the end of the butterfly, fourth at the backstroke, third at the end of the breaststroke leg to surge past Japan\u2019s Takhiro Mori in a thrilling final 25 meters to claim his fourth win of the meet.<\/p>\n
In an unofficial point score kept by the Australian team, host nation Japan finished on top with 356 points with Australia just edging China for the second spot, 309-308.<\/p>\n
The Japanese and Chinese teams will now prepare for the 9th World Championships in Fukuoka in July, buoyed by some world class performances. Particularly notablee is China\u2019s Qi Hui, who set a world record in the 200m breast last month and swam a world-leading 200 IM here.
\nBut the Australians, many of whom finished third and fourth in their individual events at the Telstra Australian Championships behind the World Championship team members, can be pleased with their performances – which included 26 personal best times.<\/p>\n
3rd EAST ASIAN GAMES, Osaka
\nDay SIX : May 26, 2001<\/p>\n
RESULTS <\/p>\n
MEN<\/p>\n
1500m freestyle
\n1. Zheng Shibin\t CHN\t15:29.39
\n2. Kyu-Chul Han\t KOR\t15:31.09
\n3. Shunichi Fujita\tJPN\t15:34.27
\n4. Andrew Affleck \tAUS\t15:34.34
\n7. Stephen Penfold\tAUS\t15:49.45<\/p>\n
200m individual medley
\n1. Rob Van Der Zant\tAUS\t\t2:01.97
\n(26.89; 58.64;1:34.05
\n1. Takahiro Mori\tAUS\t\t2:02.25
\n2. Xie Xufeng\t\tCHN\t\t2:03.34
\n3. Jiro Miki\t\tJPN\t\t2:03.71
\n5. Trent Steed\t AUS\t\t2:05.10
\n(27.48; 59.42;1:34.51)<\/p>\n
4x100m medley relay
\n1.JAPAN\t\t 3:38.88
\nAtsushi Nishikori 56.05
\nKosuke Kitajima 1:00.21
\nTakashi Yamamoto 52.33
\nYoshihiro Okamura 50.29
\n2.AUSTRALIA\t 3:40.11
\nBeau Mannix 56.30
\nJim Piper 1:01.12
\nBurl Reid 52.62
\nRob Van Der Zant 50.07
\n3. CHINA\t\t3:45.55<\/p>\n
WOMEN<\/p>\n
50m freestyle
\n1. Sumika Minamoto\tJPN\t25.41
\n2. Xu Yanwei\t\tCHN\t25.53
\n3. Han Xue\t\tCHN\t25.71
\n4. Sophie Edington\tAUS\t26.08
\n5. Melinda Geraghty\tAUS\t23.23<\/p>\n
200m backstroke
\n1. Reiko Nakamura\tJPN\t2:10.99
\n2. Aya Terakawa\t JPN\t2:12.99
\n3. Zhan Shu\t\tCHN\t2:14.02
\n5. Melissa Morgan\tAUS\t2:17.52
\n(32.81;1:07.52;1:42.68)
\n6. Chloe Bennett\tAUS\t2:17.90
\n(31.68;1:05.74;1:41.46)<\/p>\n
200m butterfly
\n1. Yuko Nakanishi\tJPN\t2:10.26
\n2. Asako Kitada\t JPN\t2:12.21
\n3. Lara Davenport\tAUS\t2:13.52
\n(30.14;1:03.35;1:37.93)
\n3. Kyung-Rang Park\tKOR\t2:18.47
\n4. Felicity Galvez\tAUS\t2:13.67
\n(30.24;1:04.52;1:39.06)
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