The first domestic competition began with the participation of the top swimmers, and Katsuhiro Matsumoto won the men's 200m freestyle with a time of 1'45.13, which set his own Japanese record.
The Kosuke Kitajima Cup, which began on the 22nd at the Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center in Koto Ward, Tokyo, will feature top domestic athletes to strengthen the Japan Championships in April, which will be the Olympic representative selection. This is the first tournament.
On the 22nd, the first day of the three-day tournament, the 10th men's and women's finals were held, and Matsumoto, the Japanese record holder, participated in the men's 200m freestyle.
Matsumoto, who passed the qualifying at the top, kept the lead without slowing down to the end when he got out of the early stage even in the final, and won the championship with a difference of 3 seconds or more to 2nd place.
The time was 1 minute 45 seconds 13 and he shortened his own Japanese record of 0 seconds 09, which he marked at the adult world championships.
Matsumoto said, "I was thinking of aiming for a record because I had a lot of training during the year-end and New Year holidays when I was able to swim the most in a year and gained endurance in the second half.
On the 23rd, the second day of the tournament, Rikako Ikee, who has returned to the competition from leukemia, is scheduled to participate in the women's 100-meter freestyle.