An Olympic trials competition, also called the China National Swimming Championships, kicked off in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province on Sunday.

The first day of competitions include the heats of the women's 200 meters freestyle, the men's 100 meters butterfly, the women's 100 meters butterfly, the men's 400 meters individual medley and the 4X100 meters medley relay.

In the heats of the women's 100 meters butterfly, Xu Yanwei, Deng Biying and Hong Wenwen swam under the Olympic A qualification standard of 59.35 seconds, adding to the list of Olympic-eligible women butterfliers. In the women's 200 meters freestyle, Zhu Qianwei met the Olympic A standard of one minute 59.29 seconds.

A total of 374 Chinese swimmers are scheduled to compete in 32 Olympic events at the trials.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2008)