China clean-sweep all 10 diving gold in Asian Games

GUANGZHOU: China's world-beating divers wrapped up a clean-sweep of all 10 Asian Games diving gold medals on Friday, reinforcing their total domination of the sport.

World number one He Zi capped a hugely successful season by winning her first Asiad title, in the women's 3m springboard, while rising star Cao Yuan upstaged better-know teammate Huo Liang in the men's 10m platform.

He, who has won three FINA world series titles this year, started the session strongly with her first dive, an inward two-and-a-half somersault in pike position, and never looked back, consistently posting high scores.

She finished with 382 points to be well clear of teammate Shi Tingmao in silver (359) and Macau's Cho Sut Ian (287.55) in bronze, who won a diving medal for the first time in the former Portuguese territory's history.

He though was not happy despite winning the title and improving on the silver she won at the last Asiad in Doha four years ago.

China has collected gold in this event at every Asian Games since Tehran in 1974.

Cao ensured his country completed a perfect 10-out-of-10 for the eighth time at an Asian Games when he took the platform honours and now has the London Olympics firmly in his sights.