China's newly minted world record holder Pan Zhanle topped qualifying for the men's 100 metres freestyle semi-finals at the Doha World Championships on Wednesday, while Olympic medallist Jeremy Desplanches was fastest in the 200m medley heats. Pan posted a time of 47.82 seconds in the morning session at the Aspire Dome pool, just over a second off the world record (46.80) he set on Sunday with his stunning lead-off swim in the relay won by China.

It was a rapid rebound for 19-year-old Pan following his surprising exit from the 200m freestyle heats on Monday, an event in which he was expected to contend for medals. Italy's Alessandro Miressi qualified second in the 100m freestyle with 47.94, while Briton Matt Richards, the 200m freestyle world champion at Fukuoka last year, was fourth quickest. With world champion Kyle Chalmers skipping the meet, along with Fukuoka minor medallists Jack Alexy and Maxime Grousset, Pan is in the box seat to pick up his first individual world title.

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Swiss swimmer Desplanches, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist, secured the top seed for the men's 200m individual medley semi-finals with a time of one minute 58.17 seconds. Though France's 200m and 400m medley world champion Leon Marchand is skipping Doha, Fukuoka silver medallist Duncan Scott is present and eased into the 200m semi-finals with the eighth-quickest swim.

Scott later helped Britain qualify quickest for the mixed medley relay final ahead of second-placed Australia and the third-ranked United States. Denmark's Helena Bach topped the timesheets in a modest field for the women's 200m butterfly with a time of 2:09.21. Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Siobhan Haughey will bid for a maiden world title in the women's 200m freestyle final in the evening session later on Wednesday, while Japan's Tomoru Honda, also a Tokyo runnerup, will swim for the men's 200m butterfly crown.

China's newly minted world record holder Pan Zhanle topped qualifying for the men's 100 metres freestyle semi-finals at the Doha World Championships on Wednesday, while Olympic medallist Jeremy Desplanches was fastest in the 200m medley heats.

China's newly minted world record holder Pan Zhanle topped qualifying for the men's 100 metres freestyle semi-finals at the Doha World Championships on Wednesday, while Olympic medallist Jeremy Desplanches was fastest in the 200m medley heats. Pan posted a time of 47.82 seconds in the morning session at the Aspire Dome pool, just over a second off the world record (46.80) he set on Sunday with his stunning lead-off swim in the relay won by China. It was a rapid rebound for 19-year-old Pan following his surprising exit from the 200m freestyle heats on Monday, an event in which he was expected to contend for medals. Italy's Alessandro Miressi qualified second in the 100m freestyle with 47.94, while Briton Matt Richards, the 200m freestyle world champion at Fukuoka last year, was fourth quickest. With world champion Kyle Chalmers skipping the meet, along with Fukuoka minor medallists Jack Alexy and Maxime Grousset, Pan is in the box seat to pick up his first individual world title. Also read: Athletics: Kenya's Sarah Chepchirchir handed 8-year ban for second doping violation Swiss swimmer Desplanches, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist, secured the top seed for the men's 200m individual medley semi-finals with a time of one minute 58.17 seconds. Though France's 200m and 400m medley world champion Leon Marchand is skipping Doha, Fukuoka silver medallist Duncan Scott is present and eased into the 200m semi-finals with the eighth-quickest swim. Scott later helped Britain qualify quickest for the mixed medley relay final ahead of second-placed Australia and the third-ranked United States. Denmark's Helena Bach topped the timesheets in a modest field for the women's 200m butterfly with a time of 2:09.21. Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Siobhan Haughey will bid for a maiden world title in the women's 200m freestyle final in the evening session later on Wednesday, while Japan's Tomoru Honda, also a Tokyo runnerup, will swim for the men's 200m butterfly crown.

Doha World C'ships: China's world record holder Pan Zhanle tops qualifying for men's 100m freestyle semifinals

Australia's top swimmers have opted out of the world championships in Doha, with the squad announced Friday sans Ariarne Titmus, Mollie O'Callaghan and Kyle Chalmers. Kaylee McKeown and Emma McKeon will also give the February event a miss to focus on the Paris Olympics later in the year.

The 18-strong roster is headlined by reigning 50-metre freestyle world champion Cameron McEvoy&nbsp;and sprinter Shayna Jack, who has been part of four world record-breaking relay teams. The squad is half the size of the one that collected 25 medals at the worlds in Fukuoka this year, including 13 golds.

Elijah Winnington, the 2022 world champion, will attempt to top the podium again in the 400m freestyle while Jenna Forrester,&nbsp;Abbey Harkin and Brianna Throssell add experience. Three rookies were selected including backstroke specialists Iona Anderson and Jaclyn Barclay, who shone at the world junior swimming championships in Israel this year.

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Australia have a busy lead-up to the Olympics. The national championships on the Gold Coast are in April and Olympic swimming trials at Brisbane on June 10-15.

Australia squad: Iona Anderson, Jaclyn Barclay, Jack Cartwright, Abbey Connor, Isaac Cooper, Jenna Forrester, Madeleine Gough, Abbey Harkin, Shayna Jack, Moesha Johnson, Cameron McEvoy, Kiah Melverton, Alexandria Perkins, Kai Taylor, Brianna Throssell, Samuel Williamson, Elijah Winnington, Bradley Woodward

Australia's top swimmers have opted out of the world championships in Doha, with the squad announced Friday sans Ariarne Titmus, Mollie O'Callaghan and Kyle Chalmers.

Australia's top swimmers have opted out of the world championships in Doha, with the squad announced Friday sans Ariarne Titmus, Mollie O'Callaghan and Kyle Chalmers. Kaylee McKeown and Emma McKeon will also give the February event a miss to focus on the Paris Olympics later in the year. The 18-strong roster is headlined by reigning 50-metre freestyle world champion Cameron McEvoy and sprinter Shayna Jack, who has been part of four world record-breaking relay teams. The squad is half the size of the one that collected 25 medals at the worlds in Fukuoka this year, including 13 golds. Elijah Winnington, the 2022 world champion, will attempt to top the podium again in the 400m freestyle while Jenna Forrester, Abbey Harkin and Brianna Throssell add experience. Three rookies were selected including backstroke specialists Iona Anderson and Jaclyn Barclay, who shone at the world junior swimming championships in Israel this year. Also read: Tennis: ITF names Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka as its 2023 'world champions' Australia have a busy lead-up to the Olympics. The national championships on the Gold Coast are in April and Olympic swimming trials at Brisbane on June 10-15. Australia squad: Iona Anderson, Jaclyn Barclay, Jack Cartwright, Abbey Connor, Isaac Cooper, Jenna Forrester, Madeleine Gough, Abbey Harkin, Shayna Jack, Moesha Johnson, Cameron McEvoy, Kiah Melverton, Alexandria Perkins, Kai Taylor, Brianna Throssell, Samuel Williamson, Elijah Winnington, Bradley Woodward

Top Australian swimmers opt out of Doha world championships

India's Asian marathon champion Gopi Thonakal has qualified for the World Athletics Championships to be held in Doha in September-October after finishing 11th in the Seoul International Marathon.

The 30-year-old Gopi clocked his personal best time of 2 hours 13 minutes 39 seconds in the marathon race on Sunday, bettering the World Championships qualification mark of 2:16:00. His earlier best was 2:15:16 last year.

Gopi's time is the second best ever by an Indian after the four-decade-old national record of 2:12:00, which is held by Shivnath Singh.

Seoul International Marathon is a world-class IAAF Gold label event.

Gopi won the Asian marathon title in Dongguan, China in 2017. He finished 25th in the 2016 Olympics. The following year, he took part in the World Championships in London and finished 28th.

India's Asian marathon champion Gopi Thonakal has qualified for the World Athletics Championships to be held in Doha in September-October after finishing 11th in the Seoul International Marathon.

India's Asian marathon champion Gopi Thonakal has qualified for the World Athletics Championships to be held in Doha in September-October after finishing 11th in the Seoul International Marathon. The 30-year-old Gopi clocked his personal best time of 2 hours 13 minutes 39 seconds in the marathon race on Sunday, bettering the World Championships qualification mark of 2:16:00. His earlier best was 2:15:16 last year. Gopi's time is the second best ever by an Indian after the four-decade-old national record of 2:12:00, which is held by Shivnath Singh. Seoul International Marathon is a world-class IAAF Gold label event. Gopi won the Asian marathon title in Dongguan, China in 2017. He finished 25th in the 2016 Olympics. The following year, he took part in the World Championships in London and finished 28th.

Marathon runner Gopi Thonakal qualifies for Doha Worlds

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Doha World C'ships: China's world record holder Pan Zhanle tops qualifying for men's 100m freestyle semifinals

Top Australian swimmers opt out of Doha world championships

Marathon runner Gopi Thonakal qualifies for Doha Worlds