WATER SPORT - Vladimir Morozov of Russia struck gold twice to carry the men’s series title race to a final day at the Fina/airweave Swimming World Cup in Singapore, on Saturday.
However, the Russian needs to set a world record in Sunday morning’s heats to prevent Chad le Clos of South Africa taking the crown off him ahead of Sunday night’s finals session.
Katinka Hosszu of Hungary also needs to set a world record in Sunday’s heats to have any chance of retaining the title she has held for five years, otherwise it passes to Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden.
Morozov went all out to lower his 50.30 world record in the 100m IM in a bid to pick up bonus points and exert some pressure on Le Clos, but touched home in 50.49.
The two title chasers later went head to head in the 50m free, with the Russian stopping the clock at 20.61, and Le Clos back in fifth (21.56).
The South African (1:49.25) had earlier won an epic duel with in-form Daiya Seto (JPN) in the 200m fly, setting a furious pace in the opening 100m, being overtaken by the Japanese at the 150, then producing a storming final 25m to win by almost a second.
Saturday’s results mean Morozov is now in pole position in the Beijing-Tokyo-Singapore cluster with 108 points, six ahead of Le Clos, with Seto third on 93.
Seto arrived in good form, after twice breaking the 400m IM world standard in the past week.
Michael Andrew (USA) had a day to remember, claiming three world junior records — two in the 4x50m IM relay, and the other in the 100m IM behind Morozov, lowering his own mark from 51.86 to 51.65.
