SWIMMING -CHINA'S STUDENT- SENSATION * : YU -13- HONOURS

BEIJING : Chinese swimming prodigy Yu Zidi sent shock waves through the swimming world again with a blistering Asian record time at China's National Games in Shenzhen.

Yu, who turned 13 in October swam an impressive 2:07:41 to claim gold in the women's 200 metre individual medley last Tuesday.

The schoolgirl from Northern Hebei province beat the 2:07:57 her compatriot Ye Shiwen swam in the London Olympics months before Yu was even born.

Yu's time, met with huge cheers and gaping jaws from shocked spectators in Shenzhen, was the ninth fastest of all time.

It also made her the second fastest woman this year globally, behind only Canada's world record holder Summer McIntosh.

She knocked nearly two seconds off her previous personal best time set in Singapore in July.

Yu burst into the world scene in Singapore by becoming the youngest swimmer in history to win a medal at the World Aquatic Championships, taking bronze as part of China's 4x200m freestyle relay team.

She also finished fourth in each of her three individual events - the 400m medley, 200m butterfly and 200m medley.

She is shaping as a major threat in future international competitions, including at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028, if her times continue to progress.

The World Students Society thanks AFP.