China’s controversial swimming superstar Sun Yang has taken a potshot at rival Japan’s national anthem at the Asian Games, describing it as "ugly". The double Olympic champion told Chinese media he had taken great pleasure in helping the men’s 4x100 freestyle relay team beat the Japanese on Wednesday. He then indulged in a spot of diplomatic jousting.
"The Chinese let their anger out tonight," he is heard as saying on a Chinese-language audio passed to AFP. "Honestly speaking, the Japanese national anthem sounds ugly." Sun is no stranger to controversy, getting himself suspended for six months after police detained him last year for colliding with a bus while driving a Porsche without a licence.
China's swimming bad boy previously had a public bust-up with his coach after he voiced disapproval of his dalliance with an air hostess. Japan got off to a flying start over the first two days of the swimming competition, triggering an angry rant from a top Chinese swim official, who ordered Japanese swimmer Kosuke Hagino to sit down as he tried to leave a Press conference. China have since roared back to open a 15-8 lead in gold medals after four days, the last of their 15 titles coming in Wednesday's relay victory.
Sun won gold in the 400m freestyle.