5 golds for China at FINA Champions Swim Series in Beijing

Liu Xiang of China competes in the women's 50m backstroke final during day one of FINA Champions Swim Series 2020 in Beijing, China, January 18, 2020.

Three-time Olympic champion Sun Yang delighted the home fans as he led the Chinese swimmers to five gold medals on the first day of the FINA Champion Swim Series in Beijing on Saturday.

Sun stormed a time of one minute and 45.55 seconds to win the men's 200m freestyle

, beating his arch-rival Danas Rapsys of Lithuania, who finished second in 1:45.74, and Dominik Kozma of Hungary, who came third in 1:48.98.

"I did not think it as a revenge since I lost to Danas in Shenzhen by 0.03 seconds. It is a good competition with the strongest rivals in the world. To me, Danas is very tough and also a respected friend," said Sun, who took a gold in the 400m freestyle and a silver in the 200m freestyle in the Shenzhen leg held from January 14 to 15.

Sun will compete in the 400m freestyle on Sunday.

World record holder Liu Xiang proved her reputation in the women's 50m backstroke in 27.58, her compatriot Yu Jingyao continued her winning streak in the women's 200m breaststroke in 2:24.52.

Another Chinese Yan Zibei led the men's 100m breaststroke in 58.83.

China's two-time world champion Xu Jiayu tied for first place in the men's 100m backstroke final with his long-time idol Ryosuke Irie of Japan in 52.97. American Matt Grever took the bronze medal in 53.71.

Xu Jiayu of China (L) with Ryosuke Irie of Japan celebrates winning the gold medal in the men's 100m backstroke final during day one of the FINA Champions Swim Series 2020 in Beijing, China, January 18, 2020.

"It is a great honor to tie Irie for the title. I am a little bit tired but faster than I did in Shenzhen. It is just a test of my winter training," Xu said.

World champion Daiya Seto was the only double winner on Saturday as he claimed titles in both men's 200m butterfly in a Japanese national record time of 1:52.53 and the 200m individual medley in 1:55.55.

"I am surprised by my 200m fly because I was not in my best form. But the time boosts my confidence. It is a great start for me," commented Seto after the race.

In other women's events, Katinka Hosszu of Hungary snatched the gold in the 200m backstroke, Ajna Kesely of Hungary topped the 400m freestyle in 4:09.10, Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong, China, was the fastest in the 100m freestyle in 53.33, and Molly Hannis of the United States beat Jamaican veteran Alia Atkinson in the 50m breaststroke.

On the men's side, World Cup overall winner Vladimir Morozov of Russia was the king in the 50m freestyle with a time of 21.55 seconds, and Nicholas Santos of Brazil won the 50m butterfly in 22.95.

With about 70 top swimmers from 26 countries and regions, the FINA Champions Swim Series will finish the second leg in Beijing on Sunday.

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)