Hosszu and Le Clos among winners as Moscow-leg of FINA World Cup opens

Katinka Hosszu won two of her seven events on a grueling opening day of the FINA World Cup Chad Le Clos, pictured celebrating in Kazan, was another winner today in Moscow ©Getty Images

Hungarian star Katinka Hosszu was a double winner on the opening day of the International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Cup in Moscow after competing in seven events.

Hosszu, who secured two medley victories at last week's World Championships in Kazan, led from the start to win the 200 metres freestyle, touching in 1min 56.83sec, edging out American Bronte Barratt in 1:57.15.

After finishing eighth in the 100m butterfly, fourth in the 50m backstroke and sixth in the 200m backstroke, the 26-year-old eased to victory in her favored 200m individual medley.

Hosszu was only third at halfway but took the lead in the breaststroke leg before ramming home her advantage in the freestyle, winning in 2:10.68 ahead of compatriot Zsuzsanna Jakobos.

She then finished fourth in the 50m freestyle behind Danish winner Jeanette Ottesen, who stopped the clock in 24.62,

South Africa's Chad Le Clos, another star from Kazan, swum the sixth fastest time of the year in the 100m freestyle - not considered one of his strongest events - to win in 48.16.

Russian pair Nikita Lobintsev and Danila Izotov placed second and third in 48.58 and 48.59 respectively.

“I had a very short break and arrived to Moscow at 2am last night," said Le Clos afterwards.

"It’s always a pleasure to come to ‘Olympiyskiy’, I have good support here, that’s why I feel really comfortable.

"Besides, it’s the best personal time for me in 100m free, so definitely I’m happy with my performance."

Chad Le Clos, pictured celebrating in Kazan, was another winner today in Moscow ©Getty Images

There were other South African victories courtesy of Cameron van der Burgh, winner of the 50m butterfly in 26.96, and Myles Brown in the 400m fresstyle in 3:48.52.

Russian success was secured by Daria Ustinova in the 200m backstroke in 2:08.21.

Katie Meili and Breeja Larson secured a United States one-two in the 100m breaststroke, with Toronto 2015 Pan American Games champion Melli, not part of the US team in Kazan, winning in 1:06.68 just days after securing the US national title.

World champion Marco Koch showed his fighting qualities in the 200m breaststroke after coming from behind with a length to go to beat US rival Cody Miller in 2:08.77, with Miller clocking 2:09.08 and American Nic Fink third in 2:09.51.

Other winners included France's Camille Lacourt, who took 100 backstroke honours in 53.44, and Hungary's David Verraszto, who won a six-man final in the 400 individual medley in 4:14.89.

Following a second day of action in the Russian capital tomorrow, the World Cup series is due to move to France for the brand new leg in Chartres-Paris on August 15 and 16.

It comes at the start of a revamped eight-leg Series taking place in a 50m pool, with overall prize money having been boosted to $2 million (£1.3 million/€1.7 million) and the added incentive of Olympic qualifying places having been introduced.