Star sprinter Zhang wins second gold at National Games

Star sprinter Zhang Peimeng completed a golden double with victory in the men's 200m dash while triple jumper Cao Shuo registered a season best of 17.26 meters at the Chinese National Games in Shenyang on Tuesday.

Zhang, who had won the 100m race in 10.08 seconds last Sunday, equalled his own 200m national record by crossing the line in 20.47 seconds.

The 26-year-old Beijing native powered through the curve and pulled away in the home straight. During the last 30 meters, he slightly slowed down but managed to hold onto the victory.

Xie, from Zhejiang, who clocked 20.74 seconds in the heats of 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow last month, took silver in 20.87 seconds.

Jiangsu's Zhang Feng, the top finisher in the heats, finished third in 20.99s, while defending champion Li Mingxuan of Heilongjiang only finished a disappointing fifth in 21.17.

"The victory was not overwhelming since I am not in a good physical condition. Although I am quite confident to win the 200m title, I really felt a little bit tired in the race," said Zhang after the race.

"Training is like saving money and competing is like spending money. I think I have already spent all the money for this year.

"The year 2013 is a year of harvest for me. I am not only talking about the National Games. My performance at the Moscow worlds can also be considered perfect," he added.

Zhang clocked 10.00 in the 100m semifinal at the world championships in Moscow,narrowly missing out a place in the final by a tiny margin of 0.009 seconds. He also broke the men's indoor 200m national record as he clocked 20.75seconds in March.

Hebei's 21-year-old Cao Shuo, gold medalist at the 2013 IAAF World Challenge Beijing leg as well as the Asian Athletics Championships in Pune, India in July, won the men's triple jump with a season best of 17.26m.

Dong Bin of Hunan Province leaped 16.76m to take the silver, three centimeters better than his result in the Moscow worlds. Fu Haitao of Fujian grabbed the bronze at 16.43.

Beijing's high jumper Wang Yu, who delighted the home crowds with a personal best of 2.33m at the World Challenge Beijing leg, clinched the gold medal in the men's event.

The 22-year-old secured the gold after clearing 2.29m but failed to renew his PB at 2.34.

Tianjin's Bailong leaped over 2.26m to finished second while Li Peng collected the bronze for Heilongjiang at 2.23.

Shandong's Zhang Guowei, a finalist at Moscow worlds with his PB being 2.32, only settled sixth at 2.20.