Zhang, Chen surge ahead in Rome

Source: Agencies | July 18, 2009, Saturday |

Print Edition

ZHANG Xinhua of China led the preliminary round in men's 1-meter springboard diving in the opening event of the world championships in Rome.

China's Olympic champion Chen Ruolin led the preliminary round in women's 10-meter platform diving.

Zhang compiled 416.10 points after six dives before a small crowd at the Foro Italico. Chris Colwill of the United States was second with 413.35 points and favorite Qin Kai of China was third with 412.

The top 12 finishers in the 35-man field qualified for the final later yesterday.

Illya Kvasha of Ukraine was fourth and Pavlo Rozenberg of Germany was fifth.

Matthew Mitcham, the Australian who won the 10-meter platform to prevent China from sweeping all eight gold medals at last year's Beijing Olympics, qualified in ninth.

Qin won gold at last year's Olympics with Wang Feng in 3-meter synchronized and took bronze in 3-meter springboard. He also won two golds at the last worlds in Melbourne, Australia, two years ago.

Zhang is seeking his first medal at a major championship. He moved into the lead after his fifth dive, an inward 2? somersault pike, which earned him scores ranging from 7.5 to 8.5.

Colwill is seeking to become the first American to win gold in 1-meter springboard, which is not an Olympic event. Troy Dumais took silver in the event at the 1998 worlds in Perth, Australia.

The only American men to win gold at a worlds were Greg Louganis and Kent Ferguson. Louganis won five golds in 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform between 1978 and 1986 and Ferguson won in 3-meter springboard in 1991.

Chen Ruolin scored 388.65 points through five dives. Melissa Wu of Australia was second with 359.80 points and Kang Li of China was third with 342.40.

The top 18 finishers in the 31-woman field qualified for today's semifinals. The top 12 from the semifinals will qualify for the final, also scheduled for today.

Besides her victory at last year's Beijing Games, Chen also won the silver medal at the last worlds in Melbourne, Australia, two years ago.

Wu took silver at the Olympics and the last worlds with Briony Cole in 10-meter synchronized.

Kang botched her final dive, a backward 1? twist pike, and earned 5's and 6's to drop from second to third.

Christin Steuer of Germany, who took bronze in Melbourne, stood fourth, and Alexandra Croak of Australia was fifth.

Diving

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Zhang, Chen surge ahead in Rome

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