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China's divers dominate in Doha

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-12-14 09:58

China's divers inched closer to perfection at the Doha Asian Games by recording one-two finishes in the men's and women's 3m springboard on Wednesday, giving the Chinese eight golds from eight events.

China's Wu Minxiacompetes during the women's 3m springboard diving final at the 15th Asian Games in Doha December 13, 2006. [Reuters]

Wu Minxia and He Chong won their second titles of the 15th Games to keep China on course to sweep all 10 diving golds at the December 1-15 Games.

Wu said she was happy to win her second gold but admitted her final dive -- a reverse two-and-a-half somersaults -- could have been a lot better.

"Before the last dive it was all going well," she told a news conference. "I'm satisfied, but I was nervous and made a mistake and that's always going to be a regret."

Wu amassed a score of 371.85, with compatriot He Zi taking the silver with 366.90 and Mun Yee Leong of Malaysia the bronze.

The 21-year-old Wu said China's dominance on the boards at the Hamad Aquatic Centre was down to a team effort.

"You shouldn't look at individuals, I wish people would focus on the team overall," she said.

He's score of 530.40 was more than enough for the gold in the men's event. Luo Yutong moved into second after Japan's Ken Terauchi failed to deliver on his final dive, a troublesome reverse two-and-a-half somersaults with one-and-a-half twists.

China's He said the win was expectated by the Chinese team.

"We've won all the golds at the Asian Games before, the target is no different here," he told a news conference.

China's chief coach Jhong Zhou said she was pleased with the team's showing in Doha, but sidestepped questions about whether they were capable of a clean sweep at the Beijing Olympics.

"It's really very difficult to tell," she said. "We will just have to try our best."