Seto and Sates sparkle as FINA World Cup Doha 2021 kicks off in style

DOHA (QAT), 21.10.2021: FINA World Cup Doha 2021 on Thursday got off to an exciting start as Japan’s Dalya Seto won the gold in the men’s 100m Medley Final at Hamad Aquatic Centre where South African giant Matthew Sates picked up two medals. Seto, 27 won the 100m medley final in a time of 51.56 seconds and secured 873 FINA points for his efforts. The Japanese swimming star 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 of a field of 10 swimmers on the starting ramp. Hwang clocked 52.74 seconds. “I am so happy to be back in the pool,” Seto said after his victory. Earlier in the evening on Thursday, Sates won the 400m freestyle gold to underline his intentions in Doha this week. Sates sealed the deal in a time of 3:38.64 and picked up a tally of 914 FINA points. Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys grabbed the silver in a time of 3:38.88. Estonia’s Kregor Zirk was the third-best (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 on Thursday. “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. Ugolkova also picked up 886 FINA points. 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). “It is a nice way to start the weekend. I hope I keep winning like this,” Ygolkova said. 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. Morozov also collected 898 points for his convincing win. 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 in a field of 10 entries. Germany’s Fabio Schwingenschlogl (56.63 seconds) and Russia’s Anton Chupkov (57.56 seconds) completed the top three. “It is a good time to race. I am happy to go away with this win. Every race is a clean slate. I want to keep winning and that’s my goal for the next two weeks,” Kamminga, who celebrates his 26th birthday on Friday, said. Kamminga won the 100m and 200m breaststroke finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. In the women’s 200m breaststroke final, Russian star Yulia Efimova produced a near-flawless routine to win the gold in 2:22.19. South African swimmer Emily Visagie (2:23.20) won the silver while Back Suyeon of Korea settled for a bronze (2:23.22) “I am surprised to be here (smiles). I am excited with this result. I am looking to have some fun in the pool,” Efimova said. In the men’s 100, butterfly final, American swimmer Tom Shields beat a strong field to win the gold in 49.46 seconds. Hungary’s Szebasztian Szabo grabbed the silver (49.92) while Belgium’s Louis Croenen bagged the bronze (51.54 seconds). “Nice way to start. Always good to be here. I like this pool. We got American representations here (smiles),” Shields said after picking up the gold medal. In the women’s 200m backstroke final, Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Jakabos sealed the deal with a six-entry field clocking a time of 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). “It was a good competition. I feel happy,” Jakabos said after the race. 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 medalists Israel’s YakavToumarkin (1:52.98) and Lee Juho (Korea, 1:52.98). Qatar’s Ibrahim Al Hilal (2:18.62) also featured in the race. “It was a great race. I am very happy to get the win. I would like to be faster. I am excited for the rest of the week. It is definitely exciting to see so many South Africans here,” Coetze said on Thursday. In the women’s 50m backstroke final, Dutch swimmer Kira Toussaint emerged winner in a time of 25.93 seconds while Australia’s Holly Barratt finished second-best (26.47). Germany’s Annika Bruhn was third in a time of 28.42. “It’s a great way to start races in Doha. I think 25.93 is a good time. I am happy with it. Winning is always good. I am a happy girl. After every race I watch it back and analyze and try to get better. I always race, watch and learn,” Toussaint said with a huge smile. In the women’s 400m freestyle final, Australian Olympic Games star Madison Wilson produced the first win of the Doha event by clocking a time of 4:03.58. Italy’s Simona Quadarella clinched the silver medal with a time of 4:03.74. Australian swimmer Leah Neale grabbed the bronze in a time of 4:05.66. “Definitely the event I am not used to. Some good girls were in the pool. I am so happy,” Wilson, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, said after the presentation ceremony. “I had a training camp in Israel before I came here. That training camp really helped me,” the 27-year-old added. FIRST DAY’S RESULTS: 1 - Women’s 400m Freestyle Final Madison Wilson (AUS) 4:03.58 Simona Quadarella (ITA) 4:03.74 Leah Neale (AUS) 4:05.66 2 - Men’s 400m Freestyle Final Matthew Sates (RSA) 3:38.64 Danas Rapsys (LIT) 3:38.88 KregorZirk (EST) 3:42.35 3 - Women’s 50m Backstroke Final Kira Toussaint (NED) 25.93 Holly Barratt (AUS) 26.47 Annika Bruhn (GER) 28.42 4 - Men’s 200m Backstroke Final Pieter Coetze (RSA) 1:52.09 Yakav Toumarkin (ISR) 1:52.98 Lee Juho (KOR) 1:52.98 5 - Women’s 200m Backstroke Final Zsuzsanna Jakabos (HUN) 2:06.23 Maria Ugolkova (SUI) 2:06.47 Katja Fain (SLO) 2:09.90 6 - Men’s 100m Butterfly Final Tom Shields (US) 49.46 Szebasztian Szabo (HUN) 49.92 Louis Croenen (BEL) 51.54 7 - Women’s 200m Breaststroke Final Yuliya Efimova (RUS) 2:22.19 Emily Visagie (RSA) 2:23.20 Back Suyeon (KOR) 2:23.22 8 - Men’s 100m Breaststroke Final Arno Kamminga (NED) 56.35 seconds Fabio Schwingenschlogl (GER) 56.63 Anton Chupkov (RUS) 57.56 9 - Women’s 50m Freestyle Final Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) 23.46 Emma McKeon (AUS) 23.54 Madison Wilson (AUS) 23.90 10 - Men’s 50m Freestyle Final Vladimir Morozov (RUS) 20.89 Kyle Charlmers (AUS) 21.02 Jesse Puts (NED) 21.13 11 - Women’s 100m Medley Final Maria Ugolkova (SUI) 58.82 Michelle Coleman (SWE) 59.18 Fanny Lecluyse (BEL) 1:00.09 12 - Men’s 100m Medley Final Dalya Seto (JPN) 51.56 Matthew Sates (RSA) 51.74 Sunwoo Hwang (KOR) 52.74