China's Swimmers Shine and Face Challenges at 2025 World Aquatics Championships

Qin Haiyang of Team China competed in the Men's 50m Breaststroke Final at the Singapore 2025 World Aquatics Championships.

Day 4 of the swimming competition at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore saw several notable performances from the Chinese team. Li Bingjie secured a silver medal in the women's 200m freestyle. Qin Haiyang earned a bronze medal in the men's 50m breaststroke. The mixed 4x100m medley relay team also claimed a silver medal.

Li Bingjie, after her recent success in the 400m freestyle, continued to impress. In the 200m freestyle final, she finished second with a time of 1:54.52. She expressed satisfaction with the result, highlighting the importance of breaking the 1:55 barrier for her 400m strategy and team relays.

Qin Haiyang added to China's medal count by finishing third in the men's 50m breaststroke with a time of 26.67 seconds. He had previously set the fastest time in the semifinals and expressed a relaxed attitude going into the finals, having already achieved his goal of winning a gold medal at the championship.

The mixed 4x100m medley relay was a highly anticipated event. China secured a silver medal with a time of 3:39.99. The result was seen as a testament to the team's effort amidst the evolving techniques in swimming.

Veteran swimmer Xu Jiayu expressed emotional sentiments following the relay heats, acknowledging the increasing challenges in the sport. He noted the need for adaptation to remain competitive. A sports commentator highlighted the transitional phase for Chinese swimming, with veterans guiding the next generation. The commentator also pointed out a talent gap in men's backstroke.

The evening also brought a surprise as Pan Zhanle, a prominent Chinese swimmer, failed to qualify for the finals in his signature event, the men's 100m freestyle. Pan attributed his performance to his condition and expressed his commitment to upcoming relay events.

Meanwhile, 12-year-old Yu Zidi continued to captivate audiences. In the women's 200m butterfly semifinal, she clocked 2:07.95, qualifying for the finals. Her performances have led to her being hailed as a promising talent. Romanian freestyle star David Popovici expressed his admiration for Yu's speed and talent, offering words of encouragement. A commentator noted the emergence of young talents like Yu, while also acknowledging the long road ahead to the next Olympics.