Sun Yang adds 800m freestyle Asian Games title in game record time

JAKARTA - Triple Olympic champion Sun Yang enjoyed a comfortable victory in the men's 800 meters freestyle in a Game record time and scored his second title at the Jakarta Asian Games here on Monday.

Men's 800m free and women's 1500m freestyle are introduced to the Asian Games for the first time since both events added to the official swimming competitions in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Sun, who just completed a Golden Grand Slam of Olympic, world and Asian titles in the 200, 400 and 1500m freestyle on Aug. 19, stayed second after first 300 meters and took the lead since then. Sun touched the wall in a time of seven minutes 48.36 seconds. Takeda Shogo of Japan and Nguyen Huy Hoang of Vietnam come to second and third.

"I saved energy for the 4X200m freestyle relay later tonight. My plan was to swim faster in the second half and to test my endurance in the race," Sun said.

Sun, won 400, 1500 in 2012 London Olympic Games and 200m in Rio Olympic Games 2016, revealed his focus has moved to mid-long distance since the beginning of this year.

"I should swim faster than the Games record but it is my duty as national team member and the team captain to do my best in the relay," said Sun, who collected 9 world titles from the FINA World Championships since 2011.

Sun will next compete in the 400 and 1500m as individual events at Jakarta Asian Games.