CHINA’S long-distance expert Sun Yang retained his 800m freestyle title at the world swimming championships Wednesday.

    The 23-year-old clocked seven minutes, 39.96 seconds, but was pushed all the way as Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri swam a new European record at 0.85 seconds back as Australia’s Mack Horton took bronze at 4.06.

    This was Sun’s second gold in Kazan having also retained the 400m freestyle title he won in Barcelona two years ago, but had to settle for silver to Britain’s James Guy in the 200m freestyle final Tuesday.

    “I’m very proud I won this medal,” said Sun, who punched the air with celebration after his time was confirmed.

    “I knew there would be a lot of Chinese fans who would be cheering for me in the crowd.”

    Sun said he expected another tough fight with Paltrinieri in the 1,500m freestyle heats, which start Saturday.

    “He’ll be my strongest competitor as well, I also hope to get into the final and perform my best there, as I did today,” said Sun.

    Paltrinieri said his tactics to set a fast pace from the start nearly paid off.

    “Sun was swimming in the lane next to me and he beat me in the last 50 meters, but that’s OK,” said the Italian.

    “I don’t know where I got my powers from and it’s a great feeling to be on the podium with Sun Yang.”

    Horton was delighted with his bronze as he made up for his disappointing performance in the 400m freestyle when he failed to qualify from his freestyle heat.

    “This medal is very important to me,” he said after standing on the podium at his first major championships.

    “This is my first world champs and it’s fantastic to get on the podium.

    “You always have goals and ambitions to win, but even the bronze medal makes me feel happy.”

    Meanwhile, Ning Zetao edged favorites Cam McEvoy and Vladimir Morozov to lead the 100-meter freestyle preliminaries earlier Wednesday — one of several strong performances by emerging Chinese competitors.

    Ning won the penultimate heat of swimming’s signature race in 48.11 seconds.

    McEvoy, the top Australian with two-time defending champion James Magnussen out injured, won the final heat in 48.33. Morozov, the California-based Russian, qualified third in 48.46.

    McEvoy placed eighth in the 200 free a night earlier.

    “It’s standard after any final you come up a bit flat in the morning,” McEvoy said. “I’ve had a lot of practice being able to back up after a solid 200 program. ... The hardest part of this series is going to be the semifinal again, just like the 200. ... it’s going to be very quick.”

    Olympic champion Nathan Adrian advanced safely in seventh while his American teammate, Jimmy Feigen, the silver medalist at worlds two years ago, failed to qualify.

    (SD-Agencies)