*Rikke Pedersen of Denmark set a world record in the womens 200 metres breaststroke in her semifinal while American Ryan Lochte claimed his third straight title in the men's 200M individual medley at the World Championships on Thursday.*
Pedersen, 24, clocked two minutes 19.11 seconds to beat the previous mark of 2:19.59 set by American Rebecca Soni at the Olympic Games in London last year. The Dane, whose previous best was 2:20.53, finished fourth in London and was seventh at the last World Championships in Shanghai two years ago.
"It was very fast," Pedersen said in an interview with television broadcaster Eurosport. "I am really happy with the personal best and I really hope I can improve in the final (on Friday)."
Lochte touched in a time of one minute 54.98 seconds, almost a second slower than the world record of 1:54.00 he set to win the gold in 2011. Kosuke Hagino of Japan was second in 1:56.29 and Thiago Pereira of Brazil third in 1:56.30.
Lochte is the second man only after compatriot Michael Phelps to win a treble of 200 medley world titles.
Phelps took gold in the event in 2003, 2005 and 2007 and beat Lochte into second place to win the Olympic title in London last year.
Australian James Magnussen won a second consecutive gold in the mens 100 metres freestyle. The man known as "the missile" clocked 47.71 seconds, with Jimmy Feigen of the United States taking silver in 47.82 and his compatriot Nathan Adrian, the Olympic champion, bronze in 47.84.
The only men to have previously won two straight 100 freestyle world titles are American Matt Biondi, Alexander Popov of Russia and Italian Filippo Magnini.
Sejwal 32nd
India's Sandeep Sejwal finished 32nd in the men's 200M breastroke heats on Thursday. The Delhiite clocked 2:16.05.
Results (all finals): Men: 100M freestyle: James Magnussen (Aus) 47.71 seconds, 1; Jimmy Feigen (US) 47.82, 2; Nathan Adrian (US) 47.84, 3.
200M individual medley:Ryan Lochte (US) 1:54.98, 1; Kosuke Hagino (Jpn) 1:56.29, 2; Thiago Pereira (Bra) 1:56.30, 3.
Women: 200M butterfly: Liu Zige (Chn) 2:04.59, 1; Mireia Belmote Garcia (Esp) 2:04.78, 2; Katinka Hosszu (Hun) 2:05.59, 3. 50M backstroke: Zhao Jing (Chn) 27.29 seconds, 1; Fu Yuanhui (Chn) 27.39, 2; Aya Terakawa (Japan) 27.53, 3.4x200M freestyle relay: United States (7:45.14) 1; Australia (7:47.08) 2; France (7:48.43) 3. Reported by Deccan Herald 49 minutes ago.
Pedersen, 24, clocked two minutes 19.11 seconds to beat the previous mark of 2:19.59 set by American Rebecca Soni at the Olympic Games in London last year. The Dane, whose previous best was 2:20.53, finished fourth in London and was seventh at the last World Championships in Shanghai two years ago.
"It was very fast," Pedersen said in an interview with television broadcaster Eurosport. "I am really happy with the personal best and I really hope I can improve in the final (on Friday)."
Lochte touched in a time of one minute 54.98 seconds, almost a second slower than the world record of 1:54.00 he set to win the gold in 2011. Kosuke Hagino of Japan was second in 1:56.29 and Thiago Pereira of Brazil third in 1:56.30.
Lochte is the second man only after compatriot Michael Phelps to win a treble of 200 medley world titles.
Phelps took gold in the event in 2003, 2005 and 2007 and beat Lochte into second place to win the Olympic title in London last year.
Australian James Magnussen won a second consecutive gold in the mens 100 metres freestyle. The man known as "the missile" clocked 47.71 seconds, with Jimmy Feigen of the United States taking silver in 47.82 and his compatriot Nathan Adrian, the Olympic champion, bronze in 47.84.
The only men to have previously won two straight 100 freestyle world titles are American Matt Biondi, Alexander Popov of Russia and Italian Filippo Magnini.
Sejwal 32nd
India's Sandeep Sejwal finished 32nd in the men's 200M breastroke heats on Thursday. The Delhiite clocked 2:16.05.
Results (all finals): Men: 100M freestyle: James Magnussen (Aus) 47.71 seconds, 1; Jimmy Feigen (US) 47.82, 2; Nathan Adrian (US) 47.84, 3.
200M individual medley:Ryan Lochte (US) 1:54.98, 1; Kosuke Hagino (Jpn) 1:56.29, 2; Thiago Pereira (Bra) 1:56.30, 3.
Women: 200M butterfly: Liu Zige (Chn) 2:04.59, 1; Mireia Belmote Garcia (Esp) 2:04.78, 2; Katinka Hosszu (Hun) 2:05.59, 3. 50M backstroke: Zhao Jing (Chn) 27.29 seconds, 1; Fu Yuanhui (Chn) 27.39, 2; Aya Terakawa (Japan) 27.53, 3.4x200M freestyle relay: United States (7:45.14) 1; Australia (7:47.08) 2; France (7:48.43) 3. Reported by Deccan Herald 49 minutes ago.