SHANGHAI: The ambitious Chinese men's swimmers just missed out on medals at the World Short-course Championships yesterday but they are not willing to let the same thing happen at the Beijing 2008 Games.

With a fourth, fifth and sixth place each from the 4x200 freestyle relay team and their two leading swimmers Ouyang Kunpeng and Wu Peng, the confidence is building up among the squad who is targeting the first Olympic medal at Beijing Games.

"China's new swimming generation is carrying the responsibility of winning historical medals at the Olympic Games," said Ouyang, China's No 1 backstroker and the Asian record holder in the 50m and 100m event. "I have a duty to fulfil it."

His compatriot Jiang Chengji was the closest one to an Olympic medal when the Shanghainese finished fourth in 100m freestyle and butterfly at 1996 Atlanta Games.

Ouyang fought hard to place fifth in the 100m backstroke, which was won by Australian veteran Matthew Welsh in a time of 51.09 seconds. Markus Rogan of Austria took the silver ahead of Randall Bal of the US.

It was the first time Ouyang has swum head-to-head with so many well-known names in an international final, but he was ready for a breakthrough.

"Actually, I was aiming for a medal," he said.

"The bottom line is to enter top six but I think I am able to win a medal."

The 24-year-old believed he just overcame a psychological problem which dragged him to perform poor in big occasions. He paid tribute to his victory in the National Games last year which helped him to get rid of the "big-time choker" image.

"Now I am able to control myself well and for me, the good time just started."

His team-mate Wu Peng, winning China's first medal in the tournament with a bronze from 2004 Indianapolis event, shared a similar confidence.

"I have a bigger duty than Ouyang to win an Olympic medal for China," said the ever-improving swimmer who established himself with three golds from 2002 Asian Games at the age of 15.

competeing in three events here, Wu came sixth in the 100m butterfly, with a personal best time.

"It was a good swim," Wu said. "Now I need a good rest and to prepare for my favourite event the 200m butterfly which is on the last day of competition."

Chinese swimmer Gao Chang overcame an ankle injury to win bronze in the women's 100m backstroke.

And Zhou Yafei qualifed for the women's 50m butterfly final, with the seventh fastest time of the heats.

Big-winning Aussies

Australians continued to shine in the pool and added anther two gold medals to the first two from the opening day.

Besides Welsh's victory, Aussies Jade Edmistone and Brooke Hanson completed a one-two finish in the women's 50m breaststroke. Hanson also qualified for the 100m individual medley with the fastest heat time.

"I didn't make any mistakes during the race and I can't say I could have gone any faster," said Edmistone.

The Aussie world record holder said she was disappointed with the absence of China's Olympic champion Luo Xuejuan, who withdrew from the event at the last minute.

"It's always good to race the best of the world. She did not come that makes me disappointed."

Italy trailed Australia in the medal tally, and took their second gold in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay.

Another five countries achieved their first gold medals last night.

Ukraine's 2001 world champion Oleg Lisogor emerged as the winner of the men's 100m breaststroke.

Brazil's Kaio Almeida triumphed in the men's 100m butterfly to win his nation's first medal.

German's Janine Pietsch was the winner of the women's 100m backstroke and Russian Anastasia Ivanenko took gold in the women's 800m freestyle, her second medal after receiving a bronze in the 400m individual medley.

(China Daily 04/07/2006 page15)