Beijing’s ‘Water Cube’ provided the backdrop to brilliant performances during the opening leg of the FINA/NVC Diving World Series 2014, held from March 14-16. The superb venue was host to a Diving World Series meet for the fourth time and welcomed the best divers in action, 80 from 13 nations.
It was an expected show of strength by China, the traditional diving powerhouse, whose eleven-strong squad pocketed seven of the eight titles on offer.
Reigning World champion Chong He took out the men’s 3m springboard with a score of 528.80, ahead of teammate Yue Lin (silver) and Illya Kvasha of Ukraine (bronze). Russian pair Evgeniy Kuznetsov/Illya Zakharov, 2012 Olympic silver medallists, were the best in the synchro same event with an overall 455.28. Chinese duo Yuan Cao/Yue Lin and Ukrainian pair Illya Kvasha/Oleksandr Gorshkovozov placed second and third, respectively.
Cao edged current World champion Bo Qiu in the men’s 10m platform with an overall 579.45 while 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Thomas Daley (GBR) completed the podium. Cao/Lin’s victory in the men’s 10m platform synchro generated little surprise with the pair scoring a gruelling 466.32. They were the only pair to perform and garner a medal in both the men’s 3m springboard and 10m platform synchro. Germany’s Patrick Hausding/Sascha Klein finished runners-up while British pair Daniel Goodfellow/Matthew Lee secured the bronze.
China completed a gold sweep in the women’s events with rising talents Huixia Liu and Tingmao Shi successfully combining with Olympic champions Minxia Wu and Ruolin Chen in the 3m springboard synchro and 10m platform synchro, respectively. Han Wang won the 3m springboard with a total 368.55, besting compatriot and World champion Zi He, second, and World bronze medallist Pamela Ware from Canada, third. In the 10m platform, Huixia Liu exhibited her talent, scoring a total 412.90 for the gold, ahead of 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Pandelela Rinong Pamg from Malaysia, runner-up, and Great Britain’s Tonia Couch, third-place finisher.
MEDALLISTS IN BEIJING
MEN
3m springboard: 1. Chong He (CHN) 528.80; 2. Yue Lin (CHN) 494.95; 3. Illya Kvasha (UKR) 484.80
10m platform: 1. Yuan Cao (CHN) 579.45; 2. Bo Qiu (CHN) 534.05; 3. Thomas Daley (GBR) 525.05
3m synchro: 1. Evgeniy Kuznetsov/Illya Zakharov (RUS) 455.28; 2. Yuan Cao/Yue Lin (CHN) 450.00; 3. Illya Kvasha/Oleksandr Gorshkovozov (UKR) 425.67
10m synchro: 1. Yuan Cao/Yue Lin (CHN) 466.32; 2. Patrick Hausding/Sascha Klein (GER) 422.70; Daniel Goodfellow/Matthew Lee (GBR) 387.66
WOMEN
3m springboard: 1. Han Wang (CHN) 368.55; 2. Zi He (CHN) 356.40; 3. Pamela Ware (CAN) 339.75
10m platform: 1. Huixia Liu (CHN) 412.90; 2. Pandelela Rinong Pamg (MAS) 368.50; 3. Tonia Couch (GBR) 357.90
3m synchro: 1. Tingmao Shi/Minxia Wu (CHN) 330.60; 2. Jennifer Abel/Pamela Ware (CAN) 305.16; 3. Arantxa Chavez/Laura Sanchez (MEX) 296.10
10m synchro: 1. Ruolin Chen/Huixia Liu (CHN) 347.52; 2. Meaghan Benfeito/Roseline Filion (CAN) 307.56; 3. Pandelela Rinong Pamg/Mun Yee Leong (MAS) 303.96
