Sun Yang, Park Tae-hwan to meet in Asian Games freestyle final

China’s Olympic champion swimmer Sun Yang is set to meet his chief rival, Park Tae-hwan of South Korea in the 200-meter freestyle final at the Asian Games.

Sunday night’s showdown is the first of three clashes between the two. They are also due to meet in the 400-, and 1,500-meter freestyle events.

Sun finished fastest in the heats with a time of 1 minute, 48.90 seconds, followed by Japan’s Kosuke Hagino at 1-48.99, and Park at 1-50.29.

Park said after the race that he was less interested in the matchup with Sun than in besting his own Asian Games record of 1-44.47. Park won the event at the last two Asian Games.

The pair tied for silver in the 200 at the London Olympics two years ago.