COUNTRY TIDBITS Editor’s Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the performances for each of the following swimmers were swum at last summer’s World Championships in Shanghai, China (July 24-31, 2011).
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Bangladesh Shajahan Ali, who has been on the Bangladeshi scene for quite some time, swam in the men’s 50 breast (40th/30.88) and 100 breast (75th/1:10.22).
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Khalid Ismaeel Alibaba was the top finisher for Bahrain, placing 48th in the men’s 50 fly (29.95) and 63rd in the 200 fly (1:05.40).
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Anderson Lim placed 59th in the men’s 200 free (2:06.40) and 47th in the 400 free (4:34.95).
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Cambodia (CAM) Ponloeu Hemthon took 42nd in the men’s 50 breast (33.48) and 81st in the 50 free (27.22).
This month: Asia.
China (CHN) China had an outstanding meet in Shanghai, finishing third behind USA and Australia in the Championships Trophy standings with a total of 14 medals (five gold, two silver, seven bronze). Sun Yang made an indelible mark on the sport by breaking Grant Hackett’s world record in the men’s 1500 free (14:34.14). He also won the 800 (7:38.57) and took second in the 400 (3:43.24). His efforts earned him second place in Swimming World’s World Swimmer of the Year award, and first in the Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year category.
Hong Kong (HKG) Hannah Wilson, who trains at the University of California, competed in four events, placing 24th in the 50 free (25.82), 27th in the 100 free (55.71), 26th in the 50 fly (27.38) and 26th in the 100 fly (59.78).
Indonesia (INA) Indra Gunawan took 34th in the men’s 50 breast (28.81) and 58th in the 100 breast (1:03.80).
India (IND) Virdhaval Khade is the top swimmer in India, finishing 32nd in the 50 fly (24.65), 40th in the 50 free (23.21) and 41st in the 100 free (50.34).
Iran (IRI)
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Mohammed Alirezaei Dizicheh took 22nd in the men’s 50 breast (28.18). However, Iran’s position of not competing against Israeli athletes cost Dizicheh a chance to swim in the 100 breast, as he scratched when he was scheduled to swim in the same heat as Israel’s Gal Nevo.
Iraq (IRQ) Iohanad Dheyaa placed 42nd in the men’s 50 fly (27.51) and 59th in the 100 fly (1:01.10).
Jordan (JOR) Awse Ma’aya took 30th in the men’s 200 back (2:12.22) and 48th in the 100 back (1:00.64).
Japan (JPN) Kosuke Kitajima, the only man to win back-to-back Olympic medals in the 100 and 200 breast, will — continued on 22 January 2012
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