(LEAD) (Asiad) Swimming silver medalist blames self for being 'amateurish' after missing out on gold

TOKYO, Sept. 20 (Yonhap) -- With about 25 meters to go in the final of the men's 100m freestyle swimming final at the Asian Games on Sunday, Kim Young-beom thought he had the gold medal in his grasp.

He was leading the race, just ahead of Pan Zhanle of China, the world record holder and the reigning Olympic champion.

But that is when the 20-year-old South Korean admitted his inexperience showed. He got ahead of himself and lost his rhythm, as he took silver in 47.65 seconds, only 0.04 behind Pan. Another South Korean, Hwang Sun-woo, grabbed bronze in 47.79.

"For the first 75m, it was a perfect race. It was going way better than I ever thought possible," Kim said. "But over the final 25m, I was exposed as amateurish. I think I got too arrogant in the late stages."

Kim said he had a mixed bag of emotions -- frustrated that he did not finish the job but also happy that he finally has an individual Asiad medal after winning two relay medals three years ago.

"I trained so hard to make sure something like this would not happen here. This only shows I am still an amateur. Honestly, I am pretty upset," Kim said. "But then again, to finally have an individual medal means so much to me. We had some world-class swimmers in this 100m final and I am proud of coming in second place there."

As Kim was speaking with media in the mixed zone, Pan passed his South Korean foe and gave him a thumbs-up sign.

Kim quipped that his English is not nearly good enough to talk with Pan but he said he has been trying to send the Chinese star some non-verbal messages.

"I have tried to project this look that says, 'Hey, I am pretty good, too, and I am shooting for gold medals here,'" Kim said with a smile. "My competition is not over. And the fact that I and Sun-woo finished second and third here shows we will be in really good shape in relays. I think we can do well in relays later on."

In his second media availability after the medal ceremony, Kim said he had gained a different perspective on his feat.

"It felt a bit weird seeing my name on the giant screen here," Kim said. "Right now, I am feeling more relieved and satisfied than disappointed."

Kim admitted he might have been a little too critical of himself immediately after the race but said, "I think being tough on myself will only make me stronger as an athlete."

At the victory ceremony, the French swimming great Leon Marchand presented the medals. The four-time Olympic gold medalist with seven world titles traveled to Japan to give a clinic to young swimmers and to help promote the Asian Games.

"I had never seen him up close before," Kim said. "I got to shake his hand and hopefully, that gave me some of his good energy."