China sweeps synchronized titles at FINA Diving World Cup

Host China has swept all the synchronized diving titles at the 2014 FINA Diving World Cup here on Thursday.

Beijing Olympic men's 10m platform synchro champion Lin Yue claimed both the 10m platform and the 3m springboard synchro titles here with partner Cao Yuan.

The pair made a mistake in the first round and only finished 11th, but they regained their pace soon before collecting 461.31 points to win the men's 3m springboard synchro title.

Germany's Stephen Feck/Patrick Hausding came second in 431.40, while Russian Evgenii Kuznestsov/Ilia Zakharov, runners-up of the event at the London Olympic Games, were third in 431.34.

The Russian duo have been strong rivals to the Chinese "dream team" since 2011 and Zakharov beat China's Qin Kai and He Chong at the London Games to win the 3m springboard gold.

"I had a poor run in major competitions since 2009 and I want to say 'thank you' to those who have always supported me," said Lin, who failed to make the final in the 10m platform at the 2013 Barcelona Worlds.

Hausding, who also finished second in the 10m platform synchro, was happy with his second silver here. "The Chinese divers are very competitive. We did a good job, and we are happy to win the second medal today," he said.

Olympic champion Chen Ruolin and her partner Liu Huixia won the women's 10-meter platform synchro title earlier Thursday.

Two-time Olympic champion Chen and newly crowned world champion Liu dominated the final with 357.66 points, 21 points than the second-placed Leong Mun Yee/Cheong Jun Hoong from Malaysia, who started to pair up just a few days ago. Canadian Meaghan Benfeito/Roseline Filion were third in 335.25.

"In terms of synchronization, we were better today than in the training," said Chen, also the defending champion of the event. "But I still need to improve my own performance."

Chen will skip the single event at the World Cup due to her injuries. "I got injured earlier and I need time to recover," she said. "The pressure was less in synchro event."

China also won the women's 3m springboard synchro title as Olympic and world champion Wu Minxia dominated the final with her younger partner Shi Tingmao Wednesday. In the team event Tuesday, Chinese Chen Aisen and Huang Xiaohui took the title easily.