Commonwealth Games: Tao Li picks up form in 50m butterfly final and another national record for Joseph Schooling in 100m butterfly final

Tao Li in action at the Tollcross Swimming Centre in Glasgow, Scotland. -- ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Tao Li in action at the Tollcross Swimming Centre in Glasgow, Scotland. -- ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Singapore's top butterfly swimmer Tao Li has finished fifth in the Commonwealth Games final of her pet event - The 50m.

The 24-year-old was timed at 26.26 secs, which is a shade over her personal best and national record of 26.10 secs set in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou. She qualified for the final after clocking 26.33 secs in the semis.

England's Francesca Halsall won gold with a new games record of 25.20 secs while Arianna Vanderpool Wallace from the Bahamas (25.53 secs) and Australia's Brittany Elmslie (25.91 secs) took the silver and bronze respectively.

Tao, who is using the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as part of her preparations for September's Asian Games in Incheon, said: "I am getting back to form. I'm satisfied with the time, it's still a pretty good swim."

Also having a good evening at Glasgow's Tollcross Swimming Centre is Joseph Schooling, who bounced back from finishing last in the 200m butterfly final to become the third fastest semi-finalist in the 100m butterfly event.

The 19-year-old produced a strong swim and touched home in 52.22 secs, erasing his old national mark of 52.33 secs set last year. He finished behind England's Adam Barrett (52.00 secs) and South African star Chad le Clos (52.12 secs). The final will take place on Monday night.

"I had been too tense during this games," a relaxed Schooling said.

"So I finally chilled out and started to have fun again."

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