SOUTH Koreans Chang Gyu Cheol and Yoo Kyu Sang, both 17, face off regularly when they represent their schools at swimming meets.

And it is Incheon Physical Education High School's Kyu Sang who usually has the upper hand in their duels.

But last night, at the Singapore Sports School, on the larger stage of the Asian Youth Games, it was Gyu Cheol who turned the tables on his arch-rival in the boys' 200m butterfly final.

The Gyeonggi Physical Education High School student touched home first in 1min 59.47sec, a full body-length ahead of Kyu Sang, who finished 1.37sec behind for the silver.

Kuwait's Yousef Rashed Mohamad Ali Alaskari was third in 2:03.26.

Said Gyu Cheol: 'I never expected to do so well today. Normally, he beats me when we compete.'

However, when asked if he felt any pressure to do well before the race, the Michael Phelps fan, who hopes to emulate his American swimming hero and compete in the Olympics one day, said:

'I never felt any pressure because I enjoy doing what I do.'

South Korea struck another gold last night through Kwon Oh Kook in the boys' 400m freestyle.

He won in 3:58.97, ahead of China's Lang Yuanpeng (3:59.00) and Kuwait's Bouland Bolland (4:01.76).

Together, the three Korean boys also helped their country to top the swimming competition's medal tally after the opening day. China are second with one gold, one silver and one bronze.

South Korea's triumphs yesterday have also raised hopes that their team - who finished third in the swimming tally at the 2006 Asian Games behind China and Japan - can upstage the Chinese this time.

China have brought a squad of unknowns to the AYG, while Japan have not sent any swimmers.

Said Korean coach Kim Sung Tae: 'Before arriving, I expected our team to be placed only in the middle.'

He explained that he did not know much about swimmers from the other countries initially. But his hopes have been raised after watching his team do well in the heats.

While declining to make any medal predictions, he said: 'Just wait and see how our swimmers perform. The team will do well.'