China teen Li Xuanxu continues blistering form despite illness

Teenager Li Xuanxu has set a third world class time in as many days at the Chinese national swimming championships, despite being ill before the meet.

The 16-year-old clinched her third title of the week by clocking four minutes 05.77 seconds -- the fourth fastest time of the year -- to win the 400m freestyle in Shaoxing on Saturday.

That followed her victory in the 400m individual medley in the best time of the year on Thursday (4:34.59), and a win in the 800m free on Friday in the third best time of the year (8:24.10).

"I did not swim very well because I had been sick," the Hunan teenager told Xinhua news agency.

"I did not train very well. My problem is the techniques are not stable."

Olympic silver medallist Zhang Lin won the men''s 400 metres title in 3:44.91, which bettered the previous fastest time of the year of Park Tae-hwan, the South Korean who beat him at the Water Cube in Beijing two years ago.

Zhang, world champion in the 800m freestyle in Rome last year, said he was satisfied with his performance after being out of competition for more than half a year.

"I am happy with today's result since I have not competed in more than six months. I could not find the competition rhythm at the beginning of the meet," the 23-year-old Beijinger said.