FINA/Midea Diving World Series 2013

Diving World Series

Chen's hard-fought victory wrapped up a perfect day for the hosts who swept all four titles on offer at the "Water Cube" on the opening day of the second leg of the FINA/Midea Diving World Series in Beijing, China.

Chen, double winner at the Beijing Olympic Games, led the rankings for the first three dives until 14-year-old teammate Hu snatched the top position. But Chen, repeating the same performance that led her to success in 2008, earned two perfect 10s and five 9.5 marks, totalling a victorious 426 points. Hu was 2.95 points behind and had to settle for the silver. The bronze was reserved for Australia's Alexandra Croak with a score of 357.50. Chen, FINA's 2010 Best Female Diver, said: "It was great to compete again here since the Water Cube has witnessed my glory in 2008. Fighting back from second place to win just reminded me what I did at the Beijing Olympics". She added: "I was so eager to show my best that I was nervous."

2010 FINA Diving World Cup champion Hu revealed she just recovered from a right ankle injury. "I didn't train systematically for about a month due to my injury. It is a big blow for me since I've never experienced injury. Fortunately, I show my normal level. My pre-meet goal was to enter the water first with my head," Hu joked.

In the men's 10m synchro, China's young duo Cao Yuan/Zhang Yanquan claimed the title, scoring 502.65, while German pair Sascha Klein/Patrick Hausding celebrated with a silver, totalling 459.90. Completing the podium were British star Thomas Daley with veteran partner Peter Waterfield, following 0.03 points behind.

On their performance, Hausding said: "We are satisfied with the silver, which is more than 20 points higher than what we did last week in Moscow. However, we are sorry that we just won by 0.03 point ahead of the British pair. They did a great job today."

credit: Fei Maohua

In the men's 3m springboard final, Qin Kai, fresh from his last week victory in Moscow, led all the way to win the gold, beating Olympic champion and teammate He Chong, who took second. Qin produced a flawless 109C (Forward 4 1/2 Somersault, Tuck) for his fifth dive to score a day-high 100.70 points and finished with a total 541.70 points. He was 5.45 points behind and Russia's Evgeny Kuznetsov grabbed the bronze with 491.25 points.

With China's diving diva Guo Jingjing no more competing, compatriots He Zi and Wu Minxia won the women's 3m synchro. Canada's Jennifer Abel/Emilie Heymans and Russians Svetlana Filippova/Nadezda Bazhina came in second and third place, respectively.