Miluska impresses again

Miluska has twice finished in the top 12 this week Keystone

Young Swiss open water swimmer Hanna Miluska has put in another strong performance at the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

Two days after finishing ninth in the women’s five kilometre race, the 17-year-old from Basel has come in 12th in the ten kilometre event.

Overcoming choppy conditions in Hakata Bay, Miluska crossed the finish line at Momochihama Beach some three and a half minutes behind German winner Peggy Buchse. Russia’s Irina Abyssova and Holland’s Edith Van Dijk took silver and bronze respectively.

In the men’s event Switzerland’s Adrian Andermatt was well off the pace, finishing Wednesday’s race in 19th place, just as he had done in Monday’s five kilometre race.

The race was won by Russia’s Yevgeny Bezruchenko, who finished just a body length ahead of compatriot Vladimir Dyatshin. Italy’s Fabio Venturini was awarded bronze after fellow Italian Samuele Pampana was disqualified for elbowing.

The open water swimming programme concludes on Saturday with the men’s and women’s 25 kilometre races.

On Sunday attention turns to the pool events, where Switzerland will be represented by no less than 13 swimmers – the largest Swiss contingency yet to attend a world championships. The national association said on Wednesday that their target would be two final places and eight new Swiss records.

swissinfo with agencies