2018 Asian Games Day 3 Preview: Balandin Goes Missing From 2Breast

SWIMMING AT THE 2018 ASIAN GAMES

Although China and Japan continue to dominate the overall swimming medal table, smaller nations with standout swimmers are starting to race into the spotlight. The Singaporean men’s 4x200m freestyle relay, for example, launched itself onto the bronze medal podium on day 2, with the help of star Joseph Schooling, earning its first swimming medal of these Games.

For tomorrow, Tuesday, the nation of Korea has a couple of medal chances on the women’s side with An Sehyeon and Kim Seoyeong both entering the water for their respective events of the women’s 100m fly and 400m IM.

Day 3 Storylines to Watch:

  • China’s Fu Yuanhui, the 100m backstroke bronze medalist from Rio, will try to continue her nation’s winning streak in the 50m back at the Asian Games. China has never lost the sprint back event at an Asian Games and Fu enters as the top seed in 27.16. Liu Xiang will try to make it a 1-2 China punch, while Japan’s Natsumi Sakai lingers as a possible gold medal spoiler.
  • Schooling will be making his Asian Games individual event debut in the 50m freestyle, although he’ll be racing for a finals spot out of Heat 5. He’s seeded with a time of 22.80, while Japan’s Katsumi Nakamura holds the top seed in 22.12.
  • Korea has won 2 swimming medals thus far in Jakarta, courtesy of Kang Jiseok in the men’s 50m back and Lee Juho in the men’s 100m back. Now it’s the women’s turn, with the aforementioned Sehyeon and Seoyeong trying the women’s 100m fly and 400m IM for size. Both women have a shot at the podium, but Japan’s IM queen Yui Ohashi and fly maestro Rikako Ikee will be up to challenge.
  • A showdown between Olympic champion Dmitriy Balandin and world record holder Ippei Watanabe was highly anticipated for night 3 in the men’s 200m breast, but the Kazakhstani is nowhere to be seen on the start lists. His Instagram account points to his being in Jakarta, however, and the World Championships bronze medalist was originally thought to be swimming his signature event. Watanabe will still have China’s Qin Haiyang and his own teammate Yasuhiro Koseki with which to contend, but, unless there is an error on the start lists, he will not get the opportunity to challenge the Olympic champion.
  • Sun Yang will try for his 4th medal of these Games, seeded first by a large margin in the 400m free. The Chinese Olympian has already won gold in the 200m and 800m free, while also snagging silver on his squad’s 4x200m free relay.
  • Speaking of that relay, the women’s 4×2 race will take place on day 3, with Japan and China as the clear front-runners.

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Love to Swim
5 years ago

Interesting. Because he is entered in both 50 and 100. If it is not clerical error, then maybe he is confident he has the fitness to medal in 200?

Love to Swim
Reply to  Love to Swim
5 years ago

Edit: then maybe he is *not* confident he has the fitness…

DRESSEL IS GOD
5 years ago

I want to see a WR 2breast. Whether or not it’s here or 2019 WC that we see it go down or even some nationals meet, 2020 will be one of the deepest fields in history. You can expect Haiyang, Balandin, Koseki, Watanabe, Prenot, Chupkov, pretty much one of 6 other Americans and probably some new guys emerging by 2019

Bogo
Reply to  DRESSEL IS GOD
5 years ago

Probably would have been good to mention the 2 aussies that beat all of the Americans including prenot at pan pacs….. both are 18 and 19..

Mike
Reply to  Bogo
5 years ago

It’s good for the Aussie’s that these two kids are stepping up to fill the shoes for a long time since Sprenger. Hopefully by Tokyo they’ll have what it takes to win in a tight field.

IM FAN
5 years ago

Qin had a good 200 IM yesterday, he could have another 2:07 low or even a 2:06 in him.

Superfan
5 years ago

Baladin 🤔

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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