S. Korean swimmer Park Tae-hwan to begin world championships Sunday

SHANGHAI, July 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean swimming star Park Tae-hwan is scheduled to begin his quest for world titles on Sunday here at the FINA World Aquatics Championships. Park is entered in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle races. His first event is the 400m on Sunday, with the heat scheduled for 10 a.m. and the final at 7 p.m., both Korean time. It's followed by the heat for 200m on Monday and the final on Tuesday. The 100m heat is set for Wednesday and its final is on Thursday. Park appears to have his best shot at the 400m, having won the 2007 world title, the 2008 Olympic gold and, most recently, the 2010 Asian Games gold in that event. Park will likely clash against Sun Yang of China in the 400m. These two have the world's two fastest times in that distance in the past two years, with Sun holding the edge with 3:41.48 set in this year's Chinese nationals over Park's 3:41.53, the gold medal-winning time at the 2010 Asiad. Sun, who is also entered in the 800m and 1,500m freestyle, has already thrown down the gauntlet. News reports have quoted him as saying he wants the 400m title the most because Park -- "my toughest opponent," in his words -- will be in that event. Park, on the other hand, has tried to stay away from verbal wars, saying he would only focus on his own training. "I know a lot of people are keen to see me and Sun Yang compete, and I want to engage in a good competition, too," Park said. "But I am not here to just swim against Sun Yang. I am here to see the fruits of all my hard work." Park did say, however, that if a world record were to be set in 400m free, it would be either by himself or by Sun. The current mark is 3:40.07 held by Paul Biedermann of Germany. Park may have an outside shot at the 200m freestyle. He won the Olympic silver in the event three years ago. The 100m free is a different story. He did win the Asian Games gold in 2010 but has not competed in the event at the Olympics or world championships. But Park has gained some confidence after edging out the American great Michael Phelps in the 100m free at a California meet in June. World titles here would complete a dramatic career turnaround for the 21-year-old, who once experienced both dizzying highs and terrifying lows in a span of three years. Park first gained international recognition by winning three titles at the 2006 Asian Games. A year later at the world championships in Melbourne, he became the 400m freestyle champ. Park then won 400m gold and 200m silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, becoming the first South Korean to win an Olympic swimming medal. But a year later, Park failed to make the finals in all three events at the 2009 worlds in Rome. After teaming up with Australian coach Michael Bohl, Park bounced back by winning three gold medals at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. Park tried not to put too much pressure on himself. "It'd be nice to win titles here, but the championships will be a good test for the London Olympics next year," Park said. "If I can race the way I've done in practices, I should put up good times."