Chinese Swimmer, 12, Eyes World Domination

China's Yu Zidi reacts after finishing the women's 200 meters freestyle semifinal at the 2025 National Swimming Championships in Shenzhen, in China's southern Guangdong province on May 19, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
China's Yu Zidi reacts after finishing the women's 200 meters freestyle semifinal at the 2025 National Swimming Championships in Shenzhen, in China's southern Guangdong province on May 19, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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Chinese Swimmer, 12, Eyes World Domination

China's Yu Zidi reacts after finishing the women's 200 meters freestyle semifinal at the 2025 National Swimming Championships in Shenzhen, in China's southern Guangdong province on May 19, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
China's Yu Zidi reacts after finishing the women's 200 meters freestyle semifinal at the 2025 National Swimming Championships in Shenzhen, in China's southern Guangdong province on May 19, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

A 12-year-old Chinese swimmer has been hailed a "sensation" and is on course for the world championships after clocking the fastest time in history in her event at that age.

Yu Zidi's blistering 2mins 10.63sec in the women's 200m individual medley at China's national championships was well inside the standard required to qualify for Singapore in July-August.

China's swimming association told AFP they will wait until the week-long national competition in Shenzhen finishes on Saturday before finalizing their squad for the world championships in Singapore.

Yu's scintillating swim on Sunday gave her second place behind Paris Olympian Yu Yiting in Shenzhen.

The global governing body, World Aquatics, tweeted: "12-year-old sensation alert!"
Had the schoolgirl competed at last year's Paris Olympics, her time would have been good enough to reach the semi-finals.

Yu, who turns 13 in October, trains in the northern province of Hebei and has been earmarked as a "new star" by Chinese state media after first making national headlines last year.

"In 2024 I participated in some competitions, achieved some results, and many swimming fans recognized me," she told Chinese media earlier this year.

"After experiencing major competitions, I understood even better the importance of doing well in every training session to achieve good results and have a strong heart."

She added: "The most difficult time is probably when you are closest to your goal. You must keep going."



Juventus Beat Al-Ain 5-0 at Club World Cup

Randal Kolo Muani of Juventus celebrates after scoring during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match between Al-Ain and Juventus in Washington, DC, USA, 18 June 2025. EPA/SHAWN THEW
Randal Kolo Muani of Juventus celebrates after scoring during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match between Al-Ain and Juventus in Washington, DC, USA, 18 June 2025. EPA/SHAWN THEW
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Juventus Beat Al-Ain 5-0 at Club World Cup

Randal Kolo Muani of Juventus celebrates after scoring during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match between Al-Ain and Juventus in Washington, DC, USA, 18 June 2025. EPA/SHAWN THEW
Randal Kolo Muani of Juventus celebrates after scoring during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match between Al-Ain and Juventus in Washington, DC, USA, 18 June 2025. EPA/SHAWN THEW

Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both scored twice as the young guns of Juventus made a statement in their Club World Cup opener with a dominant 5-0 win over Emirati club Al-Ain on Wednesday.

Kolo Muani grabbed both of his goals in the first half, Conceicao scored either side of the break while Türkiye forward Kenan Yildiz also found the net as Juventus dazzled the crowd at Audi Field with some mesmeric football.

"I'm very happy to win the game, the team played a great game so we're happy and now we'll get ready for the next game," Reuters quoted Kolo Muani as saying.

"I finished last season well and we've started this good as well."

The convincing victory sent Juventus top of Group G level on three points with England's Manchester City, who beat Wydad Casablanca 2-0 earlier on Wednesday.

Twice Asian champions Al-Ain conceded two thirds of the pitch for much of the first half and Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram ran the show from about 35 meters out with Conceicao and Yildiz buzzing around in front of him.

A neat exchange of passing in the 11th minute set Alberto Costa free on the edge of the box and the young Portuguese right back lofted over a cross which Kolo Muani met with a powerful header at the far post for the opening goal.

Costa's fine work down the right flank 10 minutes later set up the second goal for Conceicao, who ghosted across the box before unleashing a shot which took a deflection and flew over the outstretched arms of Rui Patricio in the Al-Ain goal.

A further 10 minutes on and the lively Yildiz took the ball on the left before cutting inside, taking two touches and firing a shot into the net off the post.

Al-Ain had to push forward if they were going to get anything out of the game but they paid the price for their ambition in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

A through ball from Thuram found Kolo Muani peeling off the last defender and the French striker slotted the ball into net with the outside of his right foot to take his tally to five goals in his last six games for The Old Lady.

The Emirati side had a goal ruled out for offside at the start of the second half and skipper Kodjo Laba drew a fine save out of Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio in the 49th minute.

Conceicao, however, put the game well beyond them in the 58th minute when he skipped into the box from the right wing and beat Portuguese Patricio for the second time with a fine low strike.

Patricio finally showed the quality that earned him 108 Portugal caps to deny Kolo Muani a hat-trick in the 66th minute and Juventus substitute Douglas Luiz came close to further blowing out the scoreline in the last couple of minutes.

Juventus next play Morroco's Wydad in Philadephia on Sunday, while Al-Ain, who lost to Real Madrid in the 2018 Club World Cup final, face City in Atlanta later the same day.