NEW DELHI - China's Li Yang has bettered the women's 50 metres backstroke record at the world military games which concludes in India on Saturday, the organisers said.

Li clocked 28:09 seconds to win the final on Friday, going under the existing mark of 28.16, according to the games Web site www.mwg2007.org.

"This can also be a world record subject to the approval of FINA (International Swimming Federation) as it improves the original world record which is 28:16 seconds," it said.

"My previous best was 28.78 and this is a big jump and a great confidence-booster," the Hindustan Times newspaper quoted the 20-year-old as saying.

"My next target is Beijing."