Chinese dazzle at London World Cup event

Chinese divers bagged two more gold medals at the 18th FINA Diving World Cup on Wednesday, while host Britain claimed its first medal.

Olympic champion He Chong won the men's 3m springboard, while compatriot Qin Kai claimed silver. He, 24, produced a commanding performance and entered the final round with a 15.10 point cushion over Qin, winner of the synchronized 3m springboard on Monday.

"I am satisfied and very proud to get it," He said after the final. "This medal gives me more confidence for the Olympic Games."

The bronze was grabbed by Canadian diver Alexandre Despatie.

"It was amazing, emotional, tough," Despatie said. "I love this sport so much, I love competing. It was a fight. I'm proud of what I did."

In the following event, the women's synchronized 10m platform, China's Chen Ruolin paired with Wang Hao to win her second gold at this World Cup, despite a not-so-good start with just 50.40 points.

In retrospect, Chen said, "The scoreboard is so far away, I cannot see it very clearly, so I did not think about it. I just focused on my performance."

She said the medal had special meaning for her, "Because this competition is a warm-up for the Olympic Games".

Silver went to Canadian divers Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion, who trailed the Chinese by a respectable 27.93 points.

The home crowd had cause for celebration when Sarah Barrow and Tonia Couch, Britain's most celebrated female diver who placed eighth in the individual 10m platform at the Beijing Games, produced a stunning last-round dive, which catapulted them from eighth to third.

Xinhua