PLYMOUTH Leander’s Ben Proud continued his preparations for this summer’s World Championships by winning gold in the 50m butterfly event at the Japan Open on Saturday.

Double Commonwealth Games champion Proud clocked 23.31 seconds to take victory ahead of Japan’s Kawamoto Takeshi.

Great Britain have sent a full team to the Japan, following a tough training camp in Thailand.

Proud, who will also compete in the 50m freestyle on Sunday, said after his butterfly win:  “That was a good race that felt a lot better than this morning.

“It is what I was expecting around about now in the season.  I’d like to go faster as the meet goes on so I can go to Budapest with even more confidence.”