"It is my third meet within two months after the World Championships in Kazan and our national championships three weeks ago. I did not expect to win this gold medal and to break the record," said Li, who under the same coach Xu Guoyi together with
Olympic and world champion Ye Shiwen (CHN) and backstroker Xu Jiayu (CHN).
"I take the World Cup as preparation for next month's National Youth Games. I wish I can improve myself and become stronger in the Rio Olympic Games," Li said.
Ning was happy with the bronze medal. "After the Kazan World Championships, I was sick for a couple of weeks and not in good shape. I had competed in the national championships early this month. I just tried to get the race pace to prepare for the Military World Games next month in South Korea. A bronze today is good enough for me," Ning said.
In other four events taken by Chinese swimmers, Shen Duo, 6 gold medalist at Youth Olympic Games, snatched the title in women's 200m freestyle 1:56.47; world champion Fu Yuanhui beat Emily Seebohm of Australia to win the gold in women's 50m backstroke 27.55; Mao Feilian edged Cameron Ban Der Burgh of South Africa in the men's 200m breaststroke in 2:10.95; the 16-year-old Wang Guoyue lift the women's 800m freestyle title in 8:37.38.
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Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu tasted victory in her favorite 200m individual medley in 2:10.44. She also had silvers in 200m, 800m freestyle and 200m backstroke, a bronze in 50m backstroke, 5th in 50m backstroke, 8th in 100m butterfly.
Cate and Bronte Campbell of Australia again claimed a one-two finish in the women's 50m freestyle in 24.30 and 24.53. Zhu Menghui of China came to third in 25.01.
Australian swimmers also won three gold medals as Emily Seebohm dominated the women's 200m backstroke in 2:09.22; Dan Smith won the men's 400m freestyle in 3:51.45, Ash Delaney of claimed victory in men's 100m backstroke 54.36,
In other events, Masato Saki of Japan snatched gold in men's 200m butterfly in 1:57.44; Jeanette Ottensen of Denmark touched home first in women's 100m butterfly 57.97; Alia Atkinson of Jamaica stormed 1:07.39 in women's 100m breaststroke; Katsumi Nakamura of Japan was the fastest in men's 100m freestyle 48.60; Van Der Burgh led the men's 50m breaststroke 27.03; David Verraszto of Hungary took the men's 400m individual medal in 4:16.36.
Cate: "I felt great. Water Cube is my favorite pool in the world. It is so beautiful that makes me smile. I am happy competing here again and happy with my result. It is a tough competiton, the Chindese swimmers were very fast in the morning. So I knew I had to be faster in the final. Talking about the competition with Bronte, she is very tough. We train together and I knew she is very fast.
Van Der Burgh: I am not surprised a silver in the 200m breaststroke bacause I am a sprinter more often in the 50m 100m. I am happy with the result which is close to my personal best. It is a good start of the season and good prepare for the Rio Olympic Games. It is good to come back to Water Cube and reminds me to think about Beijing Olympic Games. I was.10th place in 100m in in 2008.
Seebohm: I feel a little tired. But it is good to get back in training. Competing the World Cup would defenitely help a lot in trainng. I like 100m better ,but my 200m is pretty strong, too.
Hosszu: "it is my goal to get tired to compete in many race i do give it out all I had.. I think 200im, 200back 200,800free. It is dffernt meet differnet challenges, i try to get faster and better in tomorrow’s race."