(Asiad) Freestyle swimmer feels extra motivated after failing to defend title

TOKYO, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- Ji Yu-chan was hoping to become the first swimmer to win back-to-back Asian Games gold medals in the men's 50-meter freestyle race on Monday.

Instead, he had to settle for his second straight medal, as he took bronze at Tokyo Aquatics Centre with a time of 21.94 seconds.

Fellow Korean Kim Young-beom grabbed the gold with a new Asian record of 21.66 seconds, and Ho Ian Yentou of Hong Kong won silver in 21.76 seconds.

"My goal was to win my second straight gold. It didn't happen, but I am still happy with the result. Considering how much I struggled before this competition, I am really satisfied here," Ji said. "At least Young-beom finished first and I got to hear our national anthem at the ceremony. So that meant a lot."

The men's 50m freestyle became an Asian Games sport in 1990. No one had even won two consecutive medals before both Ji and Ho, the 2023 silver medal winner, accomplished that feat Monday.

"Chasing a milestone like that gave me motivation," Ji said. "Now, I really want to go for another medal at the next Asian Games. It has been a while since I came under 22 seconds, and I think I can sleep easy tonight."

Ji won the 2023 title in an Asian Games record time of 21.72 seconds. Kim first broke that by 0.01 second in Monday's heats before improving that further to 21.66 in the final.

"I was really hoping Young-beom would win the gold if it wasn't going to be me," Ji said. "He looked awesome today, and I had a feeling he was going to get it done. So I just wanted to share the podium with him, and I am so happy it turned out that way."