Amazing feat: China’s Liu Xiang celebrates after winning the women’s 50m backstroke final in Jakarta yesterday. — AP
CHINA’S Liu Xiang swam a world-record time of 26.98 to win the women’s 50m backstroke gold medal at the Asian Games.
The 21-year-old Liu, who prefers swimming the freestyle, became the first woman to break 27 seconds in the event, lowering the record of 27.06 set by fellow Chinese swimmer Zhao Jing at the world championships in Rome in 2009 before the contentious rubberised suits were banned.
