Diving World Series: China dominates opening leg’s action in Beijing

manpodiom 10m

Lausanne (SUI), AKUATIK INDONESIA (March 17, 2013) – Beijing’s “Water Cube” provided the backdrop to spectacular performances during the opening leg of the FINA/Midea Diving World Series 2013, organised from March 15-17. The superb venue welcomed 60 of the best divers in action from 12 countries.

It was an expected show of strength by China, the traditional diving powerhouse, whose nine-strong squad blitzed to win all eight titles on offer.

China’s Kai Qin and Chong He finished 1-2 in the men’s 3m springboard, with a total 548.65 and 521.50 points, respectively, beating 2012 Olympic champion in the event, Ilya Zakharov from Russia, third with 514.45 points. The two Chinese paired in the 3m synchro to win with a total 468.90, besting Zakharov and Evgeny Kuznetsov, second with 430.32 points, and Mexico’s Yahel Castillo/Daniel Islas, third with 396.15 points.

Among women, 2012 Olympic silver medallist Zi He (CHN) was untouchable in the 3m springboard, totalling 395.65 points. Canadian Jennifer Abel took second with 335.20 points while Italy’s diving talent Tania Cagnotto secured the minor medal with 330.70 points. In the 3m synchro, 2012 Olympic champion Minxia Wu combined with Tingmao Shi to capture gold with an overall 336.60, ahead of British pair Alicia Blagg/Rebecca Gallantree (305.79 points) and Anna Pysmenska/Olena Fedorova from Ukraine (300.90 points), second and third, respectively.

Rising talent Yue Lin extended China’s unbeaten streak in the men’s 10m platform, winning with an overall 555.55 while podium challengers Aisen Chen (CHN, 551.55 points) and Victor Minibaev (RUS, 499.35 points) finished in second and third place, respectively. Chen and Lin’s victory in the 10m platform synchro generated little surprise with the pair scoring a grueling 493.47. Minibaev and Artem Chesakov finished runners-up (439.65 points) while 2012 Olympic silver medallist Ivan Garcia from Mexico, with Adan Zuniga, took third with 403.47 points.

Multi Olympic and World champion Ruolin Chen delivered a brilliant performance in the 10m platform, winning the individual and synchro (with Huixia Liu) events with total scores of 403.75 and 351.78, respectively. Meaghan Benfeito (CAN) took silver in the individual and synchro (combining with Roseline Filion) with a total 362.25 and 316.71 points, respectively. 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Pandelela Rinong Pamg from Malaysia claimed third spot with 337.75 points while the synchro bronze went to Yulia Koltunova/Natalia Goncharova (RUS, 316.56 points).