The FINA World Cup got off to an exciting start on Thursday as Japan’s Dalya Seto won gold in the men’s 100m medley at Hamad Aquatic Centre, while South Africa’s Matthew Sates picked up two medals.
Seto, the 27-year-old won in a time of 51.56 seconds. The Japanese swimmer edged Sates – the overall ranking leader in the ongoing FINA World Cup series – into second spot as the South African clocked a time of 51.74 seconds in what turned out to be an exciting battle. Korea’s Sunwoo Hwang grabbed the bronze out in a time of 52.74 seconds.
Earlier, Sates won the 400m freestyle gold to underline his intentions in Doha this week. Sates sealed his victory in a time of 3:38.64, while Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys grabbed the silver in a time of 3:38.88. Estonia’s Kregor Zirk was the third (3:42.35). Qatar’s Nour Eddine Kheddache (4:20.91) also featured in the finals.
“It’s good to get this result in the first final for me here,” Sates said yesterday. “The time seems a bit slow but we are working on it. We (the swimmers) had a great time in the pool. We always have a go at each other. That’s what happened out there,” he said.
In the women’s 100m medley final, Swiss star Maria Ugolkovaon overcame a strong field of nine swimmers to win the gold in a time of 58.82 seconds. Sweden’s Michelle Coleman finished in second spot in a time 59.18 seconds while Belgium’s Fanny Lecluyse grabbed the bronze (1:00.09).
In the men’s 50m freestyle final, Russian star Vladimir Morozov added to his personal collection of gold medals after a long break by winning in a time of 20.89 seconds. Kyle Charlmers of Australia (21.02 seconds) and Dutch swimmer Jesse Puts (21.13 seconds) grabbed the silver and bronze to complete the top three. “It is a great way to start here. I am very happy. This is the first win in two years. I took a break. It is easier that way (to get back to winning),” Morozov said.
In the women’s 50m freestyle final, Dutch swimmer Ranomi Kromowidjojo produced a flying start to win the gold medal in a time of 23.46 seconds. Australian pair of Emma McKeon (23.54) and Madison Wilson (23.90) finished with a silver and bronze respectively.
“It’s been a great day. I have good memories of Doha, of this pool. So, it is good to be back here. I was training back home. It is very nice to be here,” Kromowidjojo said.
In the men’s 100m breaststroke final, Dutchman Arno Kamminga showed amazing speed to grab the gold medal in a time of 56.35 seconds. Germany’s Fabio Schwingenschlogl (56.63 seconds) and Russia’s Anton Chupkov (57.56 seconds) completed the top three.
In the women’s 200m breaststroke final, Russian star Yulia Efimova won in 2:22.19. South African Emily Visagie (2:23.20) won the silver while Back Suyeon of Korea settled for a bronze (2:23.22) In the men’s 100, butterfly final, American Tom Shields won in 49.46 seconds. Hungary’s Szebasztian Szabo took silver (49.92) while Belgium’s Louis Croenen bagged the bronze.
In the women’s 200m backstroke final, Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Jakabos clocked 2:06.23 to win the gold. Switzerland’s Maria Ugolkova clinched the silver (2:06.47) while Slovakia’s Katja Fain was third-best (2:09.90).
In the men’s 200m backstroke final, South African star Pieter Coetze clinched the gold medal in a time of 1:52.09 finishing ahead of joint silver medallists Israel’s Yakav Toumarkin (1:52.98) and Lee Juho (Korea, 1:52.98). Qatar’s Ibrahim al-Hilal (2:18.62) also featured in the race.

RESULTS
Women’s 400m Freestyle: 1. Madison Wilson (AUS) 4:03.58; 2. Simona Quadarella (ITA) 4:03.74; 3. Leah Neale (AUS) 4:05.66
Men’s 400m Freestyle: 1. Matthew Sates (RSA) 3:38.64; 2. Danas Rapsys (LIT) 3:38.88; 3. KregorZirk (EST) 3:42.35
Women’s 50m Backstroke: 1. Kira Toussaint (NED) 25.93; 2. Holly Barratt (AUS) 26.47; 3. Annika Bruhn (GER) 28.42
Men’s 200m Backstroke: 1. Pieter Coetze (RSA) 1:52.09; 2. Yakav Toumarkin (ISR) 1:52.98; 3. Lee Juho (KOR) 1:52.98
Women’s 200m Backstroke: 1. Zsuzsanna Jakabos (HUN) 2:06.23; 2. Maria Ugolkova (SUI) 2:06.47; 3. Katja Fain (SLO) 2:09.90
Men’s 100m Butterfly: 1. Tom Shields (US) 49.46; 2. Szebasztian Szabo (HUN) 49.92; 3. Louis Croenen (BEL) 51.54
Women’s 200m Breaststroke: 1. Yuliya Efimova (RUS) 2:22.19; 2. Emily Visagie (RSA) 2:23.20; 3. Back Suyeon (KOR) 2:23.22
Men’s 100m Breaststroke: 1. Arno Kamminga (NED) 56.35 seconds; 2. Fabio Schwingenschlogl (GER) 56.63; 3. Anton Chupkov (RUS) 57.56
Women’s 50m Freestyle: 1. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) 23.46; 2. Emma McKeon (AUS) 23.54; 3. Madison Wilson (AUS) 23.90
Men’s 50m Freestyle: 1. Vladimir Morozov (RUS) 20.89; 2. Kyle Charlmers (AUS) 21.02; 3. Jesse Puts (NED) 21.13
Women’s 100m Medley: 1. Maria Ugolkova (SUI) 58.82; 2. Michelle Coleman (SWE) 59.18; 3. Fanny Lecluyse (BEL) 1:00.09
Men’s 100m Medley: 1. Dalya Seto (JPN) 51.56; 2. Matthew Sates (RSA) 51.74; 3. Sunwoo Hwang (KOR) 52.74