Wu grabs China's 100th World Cup gold (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-07-23 09:11
Wu Minxia defeated "Diving Queen" Guo Jingjing in the women's 3m springboard
while Zhou Luxin was crowned in the men's 10m platform final.
 Wu Minxia wins the
100th gold medal for China in diving World Cup. [Photo source:
sina.com]
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Wu, the world and Olympic
silver medallist, collected 373.40 points for the title, the 100th gold China
has ever won in World Cups.
She edged out Russian defending champion
Yuliya Pakhalina, who earned 372.85 points in all. Guo Jingjing finished third
at 368.40 points.
"I'm so pleased with the win," said Wu, "but it's a
little bit regretful that I didn't perform well in the last round. Because I was
eager to nail my final dive, so I really felt nervous at that
moment."
World and Olympic champion Guo had been regarded as the
unparalleled title favorite in the women's 3m springboard event.
However, the 24-year-old only led the first round with a 78-point dive before
executing four lackluster dives.
"First I want to congratulate the
champion and the runner-up," said Guo, "Then I want to say sorry to the audience
for my disappointing performance tonight."
In the men's 10m platform final, Zhou Luxin, who will turn 18 at the end of
July, opened his incredible show with a forward three-and-half dive, earning
seven perfect 10s from the judges.
Then, the World Cup debutant nailed two dives above 100 points and pulled off
the gold with a total score of 567.65 points.
"I didn't expect to get the
high score tonight," said Zhou, "I just want to say thank you to the team
manager, to my coach and to people who care about me."
Another Chinese
hopeful Lin Yue took the silver at 558.20 points.Alexy Kravchenko from Russia
placed third at 477.20 points.
Lin, who will turn 15 on Monday, grabbed
three golds in the men's 10m platform at this year's Grand Prix. He earned the
day-high score of 106 points in the last round.
Lin was gripped by nerves
in his World Cup debut in the preliminary Saturday morning so as to muff his
fourth and fifth dive unexpectedly. However, he still sailed to the semi-finals
with a third placing before qualifying for the final.
On Sunday, the
final competition day for the World Cup, world champion Guo Jingjing/Li Ting
will lead nine pairs to compete in the women's 3m synchronized springboard
while 11 duos will vie for the title of men's 10m synchronized
platform.
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