China

Chinese divers keep impressive at World Cup

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-07-21 09:09

Chinese divers kept their gold-winning momentum in the World Cup here on Thursday as Jia Tong and Qin Kai won the women's 10m platform and men's 3m springboard respectively.

Jia Tong of China emerged from a strong field of six finalists to claim the victory in the women's 10-meter platform event at the FINA Diving World Cup held in Changshu, east China's Jiangsu Province July 20, 2006.[Xinhua]

Although Qin's only podium finish in this year's Grand Prix is a silver medal in Russia, he lived up to the expectations by clinching the title with a total score of 538.50 points. Alexander Dobroskok from Russia and American Troy Dumais were the next two at 476.65 and 475.15 points respectively.

Title favorite He Chong of China, however, missed the podium after shockingly failed to collect any point in the first round of the men's 3-metre springboard final.

"I had never thought about winning the gold tonight as my teammate He was so formidable in the springboard,"said the 20-year-old Qin, adding that He's failure in the first dive put some pressure on him.

Though failing to complete a forward three-and-a-half somersault, He earned high scores from the judges thereafter with five sensational dives, in particular his fourth and sixth dives which both collected score above 100 points. Finally, He overtook Ken Terauchi from Japan to finish fifth.

As a World Championship rookie in Montreal last year, He placed third in the 3m springboard event and grabbed a gold in the 3m springboard synchronized event with veteran Wang Feng. He obtained three gold and two silver medals from the 3m springboard event of this year's Grand Prix.

In the 1m springboard final on Wednesday, He firmly held the top position since the first round and finished first with 505.65 points, 60.10 points ahead of second-placed teammate Luo Yutong.

Earlier on Thursday, teenager Jia Tong stood out from a strong field of six finalists to claim victory in the women's 10-meter platform event.

Though lousing up a backward three-and-a-half somersault and collecting only 49.50 points in the third round, the 14-year-old rising star kept a cool head and nailed two spectacular dives thereafter. Finally, Jia clinched the title on the tower by amassing 385.30 points.

"I didn't performed well in the preliminary but improved to some extent in the semi-final and final," said Jia, "After all, it's a world cup competition and I was not as relaxed as in the Grand Prix events."

Jia grabbed a gold in the 10m platform synchronized event at 2005 World Aquatic Championships in Montreal. Besides, the World Championships rookie pulled off a bronze in the 10m platform final.

Jia's teammate Lao Lishi finished second at a total score of 379.85 points and 2003 world champion Emilie Heymans grabbed a bronze for Canada with 376.35 points.

As the defending champion at Changshu World Cup and last year's world champion, Laura Wilkinson from the United States only managed to rank fourth with 352.70 points.

Jia will pair up with 12-year-old Chen Ruolin to compete in the women's 10m platform synchronized event on Friday while He is slated for the men's 3m springboard synchronized event together with veteran Wang Feng.