CHINESE DIVERS STAND TALL

New Wang-Zheng duo add 3m synchro springboard gold to take tally to 5 from 6

- Melvyn Teoh

China extended their diving dominance at the World Aquatic Championships (WCH) at the OCBC Aquatic Centre on July 28, taking their tally to five golds out of six events.

On July 28, Wang Zongyuan and Zheng Jiuyuan claimed gold in the men's 3m synchronised springboard with 467.31 points from six dives, ahead of Mexico's Osmar Olvera Ibarra and Juan Manuel Celaya Hernandez (449.28) and Britain's Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding (405.33).

Wang, who has now won this event for the fourth consecutive time at the WCH, was without regular dive partner Long Daoyi, with whom he also clinched gold at the Paris Olympics.

"It's a new pairing for these world championships," Wang, 23, said in Mandarin.

"It's the first time he (Zheng) and I have competed in a synchronised event together and both of us were actually very nervous and felt a lot of pressure.

"I think everyone should still see our pairing with a balanced mindset. I've experienced four editions of these competitions (WCH). I think everyone (his partners) has his own characteristics and strengths.