Sun withdraws from China relay team at Asian Games

INCHEON, South Korea — Olympic gold medalist Sun Yang has withdrawn from the Chinese men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay team at the Asian Games.

Sun's withdrawal from Monday's race was announced by his coach Zhang Yadong to China's official Xinhua News Agency. Zhang didn't explain the reason, although Sun earlier indicated he'd hurt his hand on the last turn of Sunday night's 200 freestyle final.

Sun took second place behind Japan's Kosuke Hagino in an upset result in the 200.

It wasn't clear whether the injury would affect the rest of Sun's campaign at Incheon, where he was scheduled to race in the 400 freestyle on Tuesday and 1,500 on Friday in what is being framed as a showdown with his main regional rival, South Korean star Park Tae-hwan.

Sun, who holds the 1,500 world record, left Sunday night's post-race news conference early in pain, saying he needed urgent treatment.

Sun won two golds, one silver and one bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, becoming the first Chinese man to win an individual Olympic swimming gold. He also won three individual freestyle events at the world championships.

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