China's Liu wins 200 metres butterfly gold

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Liu Zige of China won gold in the women's 200 metres butterfly at the world championships in Barcelona on Thursday.

China's Liu Zige is seen underwater as she swims in the women's 200m butterfly semi-final during the World Swimming Championships at the Sant Jordi arena in Barcelona

Liu, the world record holder and third at the last edition in Shanghai two years ago, clocked a time of two minutes 04.59 seconds.

Spain's Mireia Belmote Garcia, Olympic silver medallist in London last year, and roared on by the home crowd at the Palau Sant Jordi, claimed silver in 2:04.78 and Katinka Hosszu of Hungary bronze in 2:05.59.

(Reporting by Iain Rogers; Editing by John Mehaffey)