Five world record holders swimming at Incheon 2014

Some of the world’s best swimmers will line-up at the 2014 Incheon Asian Para Games. 16 Oct 2014
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Underwater shot in a swimming pool. A swimmer is photographed from below.

Qing Xu is one of China's most talented swimmers

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By IPC

Over 240 swimmers from 24 Asian nations will enter competitions at the Incheon 2014 Asian Para Games at the Munhak Park Tae-hwan Aquatics Centre.

Asia boasts some of the fastest para-swimmers in the world, with countries like China finishing top of the sport’s medals table at London 2012.

Over 240 swimmers from 24 Asian nations will enter competitions at the Incheon 2014 Asian Para Games at the Munhak Park Tae-hwan Aquatics Centre.

Here are a selection of current world record holders swimming for glory between 19-24 October.

Qing Xu, China

As a four-time reigning Paralympic champion in men’s S6 events, Xu aims to retain his titles at Rio 2016.

A key part of that will be a good performance at Incheon 2014, which happens less than a year away from July’s 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain, a direct qualification opportunity for the next Paralympic Games.

Xu, 22, is a world record holder in the men’s 50m freestyle (28.67 seconds), 50m butterfly (29.90) and the 200m individual medley (2:38.62), all set at London 2012.

Tao Zheng, China

Himself a Paralympic champion, Zheng is Xu’s main rival and like his compatriot is firmly on the road to Rio 2016.

In a recent interview with Paralympic.org, Zheng said that he relished the chance to compete against Xu again at Incheon 2014 because of the sheer test of his speed it presents.

His specialism is the men’s 100m backstroke S6 with a world record time of 1:13.56.

Yip Pin Xiu, Singapore

Xiu made history at Beijing 2008 by becoming Singapore’s first Paralympic gold medallist after her win in the women’s 50m backstroke S3.

That victory propelled her into overnight fame at just the age of 16 and in the intervening years, Xiu has gone on to set world marks in the 50m (56.62) and 100m backstroke (2:10.09) that still stand today.

She also won Singapore’s only medal at the 2013 IPC Swimming World Championships in Montreal, Canada.

Byeong-Eon Min, South Korea

As a home athlete for Incheon 2014, Paralympic champion Min will be hoping for a repeat of his world record breaking performance in the men’s 50m backstroke S3 (42.21) from London 2012.

Lu Dong, China

Setting a new world record in the women’s 100m backstroke S6 (1:24.71) to win gold at London 2012 was 22-year-old Dong’s greatest sporting achievement.

Known as the ‘Armless Mermaid’, she too is aiming to compete at Rio 2016.

The Asian Para Games will see athletes from 41 countries compete in 23 sports.