London Olympic triple medallist Ryosuke Irie edged up-and-coming all-rounder Kosuke Hagino Sunday for the second time at the Japanese swimming championships to reassert his supremacy in the backstroke. Irie, who beat Hagino into second spot in Friday's 100-metres backstroke, led from the start to win the 200m event also in one minute, 53.91 seconds. Hagino finished second at 1:54.23 and Yuki Shirai third at 1:57.32.
"I really wanted to win this event, no matter what. I feel relieved that I could win," said Irie, who grabbed the 200m backstroke and 4x100 medley silver medals as well as the 100m backstroke bronze at the 2012 London Games.
"I stalled in the second half as I started swimming haphazardly. This is a good lesson for me," said the 24-year-old, who lost to Hagino in the 100m backstroke but beat him back over 200 meters in last year's nationals to crush his bid for a record six titles in one meet.