(LEAD) (Asiad) Kim Young-beom wins men's 50m freestyle swimming in record time

TOKYO, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- Kim Young-beom set a new Asian Games record in the men's 50-meter freestyle swimming on Monday, winning the heats with a time of 21.71 seconds at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. The previous record, held by his teammate Ji Yu-chan, was set to 21.72 seconds during the 2023 Asian Games. Ji, who won the gold medal in the event in 2023, finished third in Monday's heats with a time of 22.23 seconds.

Both South Korean swimmers will compete in the final set later that evening, along with eight others. Kim, 20, expressed his satisfaction with his performance after breaking the record. He emphasized the importance of staying focused and maintaining his form during the final race. Kim reflected on the significance of Ji's previous record and the pride he felt in breaking it.

Ji echoed Kim's sentiments, stating that he was happy to see a fellow South Korean swimmer shatter his record. He added that he intends to break Kim's new record in the final. Both athletes emphasized their commitment to pushing each other and maintaining a positive perspective on their performance.