Sun Jiajun set a new Asian record for men's 50m breaststroke, clocking 26.61 seconds as China's National Swimming Championships concluded on Saturday.

He sliced 0.02 seconds off the previous record set by compatriot Qin Haiyang in March.

"I can be faster," said Sun. "I was sick before the competition and took a few days off. I will try my best in the World Championships and Asian Games."

Qin, who was also competing, came in second with a time of 26.72 secs, and Yan Zibei third with 27.09 secs.

Olympic champion Zhang Yufei clocked 25.47 to grab the 50m butterfly title, the second fastest in the world so far in 2023. Zhang also won the 200m and 100m titles earlier this week at the nationals.

In men's 200m backstroke, Xu Jiayu won the race in 1:56.33 after collecting the 100m and 50m backstroke titles.

Li Bingjie captured her fourth individual title after winning the women's 800m freestyle in 8:20.34. She's already won the 200m, 400m and 1500m freestyle.

Rising star Pan Zhanle snatched the men's 400m freestyle gold in 3:46.40, after winning the men's 100m and 200m freestyle and setting an Asian record in 100m.

Chen Juner took gold with a time of 1:54.16 in the men's 200m butterfly. Team Zhejiang came from behind to win the women's 4x100m medley relay.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: Sun Jiajun (R) celebrates after winning the men's 50m breaststroke at the national swimming championships in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 6, 2023. /CFP)