Preview: Chinese divers out for golds tomorrow
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-08-15 19:31

World champions Lao Lishi and Li Ting will try to pull off China's third victory in diving on Monday at the Athens Olympic Games.

China's Li Ting, front, and Lao Lishi practice for the Women's synchronized 10 meter platform diving competition at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004. [AP]

The Chinese duo of Olympic debutants, both at 17, sailed to the women's synchronized platform win in last year's Barcelona World Championships and will try to repeat their feat at the Aug. 13-29 Olympics.

Tian Liang and Yang Jinghui won the men's synchronized platform championship Saturday while Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia claimed the women's 3m springboard title.

Lao and Li will have a total difficulty degree of 13.6 from their five dives, 0.3 lower than American pair Cassandra Cardinell and Sara Hildebrand.

But Chinese team manager Zhou Jihong was confident that the pair of teenagers would have the edge in quality.

"I would say that we have a 51% of winning chances in the women ' s synchronized platform," said Zhou.

Peng Bo and Wang Kenan, making their first appearances in the Olympics, will be faced with more experienced opponents.

"None of them ever competed in the Olympics and they have some much to catch up with so many strong competitors," said national team coach Hu Enyong.

Dmitri Saoutine stands as a respectable long-time rival to the Chinese springboard specialists as the 30-year-old, despite suffering from chronical back and wrist injuries, has keeping his game at the top level since he beat Chinese ace Xiao Hailiang and Tian in the platform in 1996 Atlanta Olympics and won the synchronized platform four years later in Sydney.

The veteran, also Fukuoka Worlds 3m springboard winner, will stand side by side with his fellow Russian Alexander Dobroskok, eight years his junior, to strive for the men's 3m springboard title.

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