Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. Wu Peng, one of China's top butterflyers, said he was well poised to break the Asian record of the men's 200 meters butterfly at an Olympic trials Monday. In the 100m butterfly, Wu clocked 52.99 fbehind Zhou Jiawei, on 52.27.

China are engaged in afternoon heats and morning finals (thank you to the source who supplied that information and sent a programme that goes someway to helping to interpret difficult information coming out of China). The trials do not constitute the ultimate selection meet. There are no semis.

  'I have not swum under 53 seconds since the 2005 City Games. Several times, I wanted to meet the goal, but failed,' Wu told Xinhua agency. 'The morning score was better than last night's heat, and I think I'm already adjusted to competing finals in the morning now. There should be no problem for me to break the Asian record of the 200m butterfly on Wednesday.'  Zhou was a touch outside his Asian record of 52.1.

    The 200m freestyle went to Pang Jiayingin 1:58.32, and the 100m butterfly went to Xu Yanwei in 58.68, with national record holder Zhou Yafei, third in 59:28, a second outside best. Zhou cited a shoulder injury as the root of her problems: 'I have to say that the shoulder injury stunted my performance at this meet,' she told Xinhua. 'I dare not to turn over during sleep. I even feel painful while I breathe if I look down with my neck bending over ... the result was such a blow that I even cried after the race.' Zhou suffered a torn ligament to her left shoulder last December. Her current injury involves her right shoulder.

   The men's 400m medley saw Liu Weijiain at the helm on 4:19.77.