Shaoxing, East China: Zhao Jing set a new Asian record of 59.81 in the 100m backstroke at Chinese trials, taking down the flithy 1:00.16 standard set by Golden Flower He Cihong at Rome in 1994 a month before seven of her teammates failed a doping test for steroids.

'It is difficult to get myself excited before the race. I said to myself that I should shrug off any pressure, just go out and swim,' 17-year-old Zhao told Xinhua. Zhao shares the all-time No6 slot with Hayley McGregory (USA). Xutian Longzi, from the Chinese Army, was second with 1:00.97.

Now there are 10: women under the minute in the 100m backstroke:

59.21 Coughlin
59.41 Zueva
59.42 Coventry
59.50 Manaudou
59.59 Seebohm
59.81 McGregory
59.81 Zhao
59.84 Edington
59.89 Spofforth
59.97 Hocking

In other action, Pang Jiaying set a best time of best of 54.17sec in the 100m freestyle; Zhang Zishan, from Guangxi, claimed the men's 200m medley with 2:01.88; Xue Ruipeng, from Shanxi, claimed the 200m breaststroke in in 2:15.56; and Li Xuanxu won the women's 800m freestyle in 8:31.66.