DIVING WORLD CUP DEBUTS IN STYLE IN SHANGHAI

The 19th edition of the FINA Diving World Cup kicked off under heavy rain at Shanghai’s Oriental Sports Centre, China on July 15 while the world’s best divers delivered brilliant performances in the first event on the programme, the mixed team event.

Chinese duo Chen Aisen / Huang Xiaohui, first with 408.60 points. Oleksandr Bondar / Yulia Prokopchuk of Ukraine took second, scoring 390.55 while Russia’s Nadezhda Bazhina / Victor Minibaev placed third with an overall 381.30.

The medallists (pictured above, all smiles) were Chinese duo Chen Aisen / Huang Xiaohui, first with 408.60 points. Oleksandr Bondar / Yulia Prokopchuk of Ukraine took second, scoring 390.55 while Russia’s Nadezhda Bazhina / Victor Minibaev placed third with an overall 381.30.

Each round included two dives performed by a male diver and a female diver, either from the 10m platform or 3m springboard. The interesting part of this newly featured event is that divers are able to show their versatility on the higher and lower boards while combining with a team-mate from the opposite gender.

The traditional synchro events will be held today (July 16) and tomorrow (July 17). A total 34 women from 17 countries will compete in the 3m synchro and 13 men’s pairs will take part in the 10m synchro. The events include preliminaries and finals, which are streamed live on FINAtv.

A tough competitive field awaits competitors in the men’s 10m synchro: China’s Lin Yue / Cao Yuan, who is 2012 Olympic champion in the event (with former team-mate, Zhang Yanquan); 2012 Olympic silver medallists Ivan Garcia and German Sanchez of Mexico; American David Boudia, 2012 Olympic champion in the 10m platform and Olympic bronze medallist in the synchro event, with new partner Steele Johnson; reigning World champions in the 10m synchro Sascha Klein and Patrick Hausding of Germany.

In the women’s 3m synchro, top qualifiers include Chinese Wu Minxia / Shi Tingmao, 2013 World champions in the event; 2012 Olympic silver medallist Abigail Johnston, partnering with Laura Ryan; 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Jennifer Abel of Canada, with Pamela Ware; Malaysian Pandelela Rinong, 2013 World bronze medallist, with Jun Hoong Cheong.

DWS 2014: CHINA’S PROSPECTS EYE CROWN AT FINAL STOP IN MONTERREY

Monterrey (MEX) will host the last stop of the FINA/NVC Diving World Series 2014 on June 6-8, bringing together 80 divers from the top nations in the sport. The competitors will vie for top honours in eight events – men’s and women’s 3m springboard and 10m platform, individual and synchro – with a total prize money of US$696,000 on offer.

Going into Monterrey, a first-time host of the Series, China’s He Chong looks strong with 77 points in the men’s 3m springboard. The reigning World champion is followed by Ukrainian Illya Kvasha (68 points) and two-time winner in last year’s Series. British Jack Laugher is third (58 points), his best result yet in this competition.

In the 10m platform, Russian Victor Minibaev, third overall in the 2013 Series, has a lock on the top spot with 62 points. Tom Daley of Great Britain and Chinese Qiu Bo, both 2012 Olympic medallists, currently tie for second place with 48 points each.

Among women, Wang Han positions herself as the top qualifier with 82 points, ahead of main challenger and team-mate He Zi, 70 points. Italy’s Tania Cagnotto is third with 56 points.

On the higher board, Chinese Liu Huixia leads with a comfortable 82 points. Malaysian Pandelela Rinong Pamg, 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, is currently second with 68 points. Roseline Filion from Canada, who clinched her first World Series title with Meaghan Benfeito in the synchro same event in Windsor last weekend, totals 50 points.

In Monterrey, world-class divers will also take the opportunity to finetune their preparation for the FINA Diving World Cup, taking place next month in Shanghai, China (July 15-20).

DIVING ELITE TO SHINE AGAIN AT LONDON AQUATICS CENTRE

The London Aquatics Centre will host the third leg of the FINA/NVC Diving World Series 2014. Divers from the strongest nations in the sport will be in action in a total eight events: men’s and women’s 3m springboard and 10m platform, individual and synchro.

Among men, those to watch in London include British star and 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Tom Daley (10m platform), current Olympic champion David Boudia (USA, 10m platform) and World champion He Chong (CHN, 3m springboard), 2013 World bronze medallist Sascha Klein (GER, 10m platform), 2013 Series overall winner Yahel Castillo (MEX, 3m springboard) and 2013 Series overall winner Victor Minibaev (RUS, 10m platform).

The women’s events feature a tough competitive field with China’s biggest assets Minxia Wu and Zi He in the 3m springboard, Ruolin Chen and Yajie Si in the 10m platform, 2012 Olympic bronze medallist and 2013 Series runner-up Laura Sanchez (MEX, 3m springboard), 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Pandelela Rinong Pamg (MAS) and 2013 World bronze medallist Pamela Ware (CAN, 3m springboard).

At each meet, US$96,000 of prize money is reserved for the three best divers of all eight individual and synchro events. An overall prize money of US$87,000 will be divided between the top-six divers in each event, totalling US$696,000.