SHAOXING -- Chinese swimming's flag bearer Wu Peng failed to smash the Asian record of the men's 200 meters butterfly as he had expected here on Wednesday at the Chinese national swimming Olympic trials, but was self-assured to make a podium finish at the Beijing Olympics four months later.

Chinese swimming star Wu Peng competes to win the men's 200 meters butterfly at the Chinese national swimming Olympic trials in Beijing, April 2, 2008. Wu yet failed to smash the Asian record as expected. [Xinhua]

Wu finished the first 100 meters in Wednesday's final by clocking 55.59 seconds, 0.28 second faster than that of his national record breaking heat last night. However, the 21-year-old faded then to touch the wall in one minute 55.19 seconds, 0.37 seconds slower than his fresh national record of 1:54.82.

"I aimed at breaking the Asian record last night, so I took all my effort in the heat. Therefore, I felt a little bit strengthless in the end of the final," Wu explained after the race where world championships finalist Chen Yin took the silver in 1:55.62 and Shanghai's Shi Feng placed third in 1:58.72.

Even several months ago, Wu announced that he would try to break the Asian record of 1:54.56 at the Olympic trials, believing that he could put some pressure on his shoulders through this way.

Although he failed, the world championships silver medallist was confident to grab a medal in the event at the Olympic Games.

"I think I have had the capability of rewriting the Asian record, and I will try hard to swim closer to Michael Phelps at the Olympics," Wu said.

American wunderkind Phelps dominated the event with the world record of 1:52.09.

In the women's 200 meters butterfly final, hopeful Jiao Liuyang was defeated by Liu Zige, who clinched the title in her personal best of 2:07.76.

Jiao admitted that she was suffering the downturn after a brilliant season last year when she claimed the fourth position at the Melbourne World Aquatic Championships and set her personal best of 2:07.06 at the Japan Open.

"I was not in shape since the winter training camp," said Liu after finishing second in 2:08.84. "But I think it's a normal rise and fall. I hope I can tune up to my best at the Olympics."

Besides, breaststroke Xie Zhi clinched the title of the men's 100 meters race in 1:01.90, 0.27 seconds slower than the fresh national record created by himself in Tuesday's heats.

Sprinter Cai Li took the gold of the men's 50 meters freestyle in 22.70 seconds and Tan Miao pushed herself forward in the women's 400 meters freestyle final by clocking 4:09.69.

In the last final on Wednesday, the national team led by Zhang Lin finished first in the men's 4x200 meters freestyle relay in 7: 26.20, more than 11 seconds behind the national record.

Zhang was expected to made a splash in the 400 meters freestyle final on Thursday since he updated the national record held by his own to 3:45.04 last month. Meanwhile, Qi Hui is going to challenge herself in her main event of the 200 meters breaststroke.