Huang Sunwu’s (20-Gangwon Provincial Government) rival Fan Zhanle (19) won the men’s 100-meter freestyle at the Chinese National Team Trials.Fan Zhanle touched the touchpad in 47.60 seconds to take first place in the men’s 100-meter freestyle final at the China Swimming Management National Team Trials in Jinan, Shandong province, China, on Wednesday (Nov. 13), ahead of Ji Xinze (48.26).Wang Haoyu (18), who finished second behind Fan Zhanle in the 100-meter freestyle at the Hangzhou Asian Games, missed out on a spot at the World Championships in Doha by finishing third in 48.31, although he passed the International Swimming Federation A record (48.51).At the Doha World Championships, only two swimmers from each country can compete in the same event.In the 200-meter freestyle on Nov. 11, Fan Zhan’er clocked 1:46.72 to finish second behind Ji Xinze, who finished in 1:46.49.After missing out on the 200-meter freestyle title, Panzaner was on top in the 100-meter freestyle.Pan qualified for the Doha World Championships in both the 100 and 200 freestyle events.
Korean swimming sensation Hwang Sun-woo will also be competing in the same event.Hwang finished first in the 100-meter freestyle (48.57) and 200-meter freestyle (1:45.68) at the South Korean trials last month.Hwang and Panzaner are rivals that the world swimming community is watching closely.With a number of swimming stars, including men’s freestyle David Popovic (ROM) and women’s freestyle Katie Ludecky (USA) and Arian Titmus (AUS), pulling out of the Doha World Championships to focus on preparations for the Paris Olympics, the rivalry between Hwang and Fan Zhan’er could be in the spotlight next February.As evidenced by their respective qualifying times, Hwang is the favorite in the 200-meter freestyle and Pan is the favorite in the 100-meter freestyle.Hwang won silver in the men’s 200-meter freestyle at the World Championships in Budapest in 2022 and bronze in Fukuoka in 2023. In Doha, he will be aiming to win his third consecutive medal.Hwang won the 200-meter freestyle at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 1:44.40, ahead of Pan Zhanle (1:45.28).Panzaner won a silver medal in the men’s 400-meter medley relay at Fukuoka 2023, but has yet to win an individual medal at a World Championships.He finished fourth in the 100-meter freestyle in Budapest in 2022 and Fukuoka in 2023.However, at the Hangzhou Asian Games, he won the event in an Asian record time of 46.97 seconds. Hwang won the bronze medal in 48.04.With the domestic trials out of the way, Huang and Fan Zhanle will now prepare 스포츠토토존 for their showdown in Doha next February.