China to test new pairs at FINA Diving World Series

World
Europe

Led by Olympic champions Shi Tingmao, Chen Aisen and Cao Yuan, China's diving team aims to test new pairs at the 2019 FINA Diving World Series from March 1 to 3 in Sagamihara, Japan.

China has sent a 13-member team to the World Series, with all members being world champions except 14-year-old Lu Wei. Lu will compete in the women's 10-meter platform synchro event with Zhang Jiaqi.

China renewed five of its six synchro pairs during the winter, and the Lu-Zhang duo is the youngest. Shi Tingmao-Wang Han will show up in the women's three-meter springboard synchro after their last competition at the 2010 Asian Games.

Cao Yuan, 2012 Olympic champion in the men's 10-meter platform synchro and 2016 gold medalist in the three-meter springboard, will participate in three events in Sagamihara, including individual and synchro in the three-meter springboard and the 10-meter platform synchro with Chen Aisen.

China's Cao Yuan, Xie Sichang won gold medals in the men's three-meter springboard event at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, August 28, 2018. /VCG Photo

"I have trained on both springboard and platform for many years. But it is the first time I compete in the World Series in three events. Chen Aisen and I have a pretty good start, and what we need is more synchro experience," Cao said on February 16 after the new pair won the first leg of China's Diving Qualification meet for the FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.

Chang Yani and Yang Hao will compete in the mixed three-meter springboard synchro, while Si Yajie and Lian Junjie will compete in the mixed 10-meter platform synchro.

The FINA Diving World Series is an annual competition which invites only internationally-recognized divers, most of whom are medalists from previous Olympic Games, World Championships and World Cups.

The World Series was inaugurated in 2007 and China has so far clinched 49 medals to top the overall medal tally, Russia is at No. 2 with 19 medals and Canada at No. 3 with 13 medals.

The 2019 World Series will be held in five installments: March 1-3 Sagamihara (Japan), March 7-9 Beijing (China), April 26-28 Montreal (Canada), May 10-12 Kazan (Russia) and May 17-19 London (Britain).

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency