Korea takes two bronze medals in the pool as Asiad aquatic events begin

Hwang Sun-woo competes in the men’s 100-meter freestyle final at the Hangzhou Asian Games at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Aquatic Sports Arena in Hangzhou, Chin on Sunday. [YONHAP]

Korea claimed two medals in the pool as aquatic events began on Sunday, taking bronze in both the men's 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke.

Hwang Sun-woo started the evening with a bronze medal in the men’s 100-meter freestyle with a time of 48.04 seconds at the Hangzhou Asian Games, falling behind gold medalist Pan Zhanle and silver medalist Wang Haoyu of China.

Hwang finished the 100-meter race in Heat 6 as a front-runner with a time of 48.54 earlier in the day, qualifying for the final in second place overall.

Despite finishing the final 0.5 seconds faster than in the heats, Hwang’s effort fell short of Zhanle’s 46.97 and Haoyu’s 48.02.

Countryman Lee Ho-joon came in fourth with a time of 48.68. Hwang’s bronze was Korea’s first medal in the pool.

Lee Ju-ho quickly added a second bronze medal in the men’s 100-meter backstroke. Lee finished the race with a time of 53.54.

Xu Jiayu of China claimed gold with 52.23 and Irie Ryosuke of Japan took silver with 53.46 in the race.

The swimming schedule will continue Monday with the men’s 50-meter backstroke, 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter breaststroke and 4x200-meter freestyle relay in addition to the women’s 50-meter backstroke, 200-meter freestyle, 200-meter individual medley relay.

All disciplines will play through the preliminary rounds and finals on Monday.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]