RIZHAO, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Former men's 100m freestyle world champion Ning Zetao withdrew from the 100m freestyle final at the Chinese National Swimming Championships here on Tuesday due to a finger injury.
Ning, who became China's first ever men's 100m freestyle world champion in Kazan in 2015, clocked 49.06 seconds for his heat result, but later announced his withdrawal from both the final and the following day's 50m freestyle.
"I broke fingers in my right hand two days ago before the National Championships started on October 13. My fingers were in such pain that I could not continue in the competition," Ning explained.
Facing his fans who held slogans and cheered for him, Ning said: "I am sorry that I left you disappointed."
With Ning's absence, his teammate Hou Yujie claimed gold in a time of 49.30, followed by He Junyi in 49.41 and Cao Jiwen in 49.53.
16-year-old Wang Jianjiahe snatched her third title as she won the 400m freestyle in 4:06.60. "My coach told me to just swim at my pace and comfortably. I am happy with the time," said Wang, who also took the spoils in the 100m and 200m freestyle earlier in the meet.
In other men's events, Shi Jiawei swam 27.51 to claim the 50m breaststroke, Li Guangyuan took 100m backstroke gold in 54.37 and Wang Zhou lifted the 100m butterfly title with a time of 53.38.
Elsewhere, veteran Wang Xue'er dominated the women's 100m backstroke in 1:00.74, He Yun won the 200m breaststroke in a time of 2:28.97, Zhejiang took the spoils in the 4X100m freestyle relay, and the Chinese Army edged Jiangsu for the mixed 4X100m medley title.
The five-day national swimming meet concludes on October 17.
