(Asiad) Confident swimmer not afraid of world record holder

TOKYO, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- While preparing for his first race of the Asian Games on Saturday in Tokyo, South Korean swimmer Kim Young-beom got a closer look at Pan Zhanle, the Chinese star who holds the world record in the men's 100-meter freestyle.

Pan will try to defend his 100m freestyle gold medal Sunday, the first day of the swimming races, some two years after setting the world record with 46.34 seconds at the Paris Olympics. Kim is the national record holder in that event, but the time is 47.39 seconds.

The difference is massive in the 100m, but Kim, 20, said Saturday he felt confident about his chances.

"Just by watching him train, I could see what makes him so great, but I was not intimidated," Kim said after his training session at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. "I thought to myself that maybe Pan Zhanle was keeping an eye on me, too. So I tried to swim with confidence today."

This was Kim's third day at the Tokyo venue, which will host all swimming races during the Asian Games while the central city of Nagoya serves as the main host city. He said he felt "a little awkward" on his first day but blamed it on his own physical condition, not the quality of the pool.

"After a couple of days, I started feeling right again," he said. "The water is awesome at this pool."

Kim only competed in relays in his Asian Games debut three years ago. And this year, Kim's first Asiad individual race will come on the very first day of the competition -- not that he minds it.

"I think I can go right into the pool when I am feeling the best," he said. "I am trying to look on the bright side."

The brash young athlete has never been shy about publicly declaring his goal of winning a gold medal at the Asian Games. It may seem unrealistic but Kim said he was undeterred.

"I think I am in great form right now," he said. "I will not change my goal here. I know how hard I have worked to get to this point and I will give my best effort tomorrow."