体坛英语新闻：China's Ning gives up 100m free semi while 17 WR renewed in Doha Short-Course Swimming World

DOHA, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- A total of 17 world records were already improved before the last day of the FINA Short-Course Swimming World Championships Saturday in Doha, while Chinese swimmer Ning Zetao gave up the men's 100m free semi due to injury.

Ning, who finished second in the 100m free heats and broke the Asian record earlier Saturday, had to withdraw from the semi due to a wrist injury.

Russia won the men's 4X50m free relay in a new WR time of 1:22.60, while the United States and Italy came second and third respectively. China settled for a fifth finish.

"It's my first major international competition," said Chinese swimmer Yu Hexin, the Youth Olympic champ. "I found the gap between the first-class swimmers and myself, and I learned a lot from them."

French Olympic champ Florent Manaudou broke the men's 50m backstroke world recond in 22.22.

"I didn't expect to do that," said the French, who also renewed the 50m free WR. "But I think my backstoke is as good as my freestyle."

Hungary's Katinka Hosszu collected her fourth gold here by winning the 200m im in a WR time of 2:01.86.

Jamaica's Alia Atkinson didn't realize she won the 100m breast until she saw the time in the scoreboard. Her winning time was in an equalled WR of 1:02.36. China's Shi Jinglin finished fourth.

Also Saturday, South Africa's swimming star Chad le Clos won the men's 50m fly in 21.95, while the United States took the mixed 4X50m free relay title.

China's Lu Ying and Chen Xinyi made the women's 100m fly final which will be held Sunday.