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China's Wang Tianling proved he is in a class of his own Saturday when he captured his second gold at the World University Games, adding a fourth diving gold to China's medal tally.
Wang Tianling, who took the gold in the men's 1m springboard Thursday, won the men's 3m springboard with 695.10 points from his six final and five semifinal dives.
Mexico's Fernando Platas, silver medalist in the event at Sydney Olympics last year, was 17 points behind at 678.06 points to place second, followed by Japan's Ken Terauchi with 671.73 points.
Wang Tianling's teammate Wang Feng, who had been leading the 12- man final field in the first two rounds, faltered in his third dive, a reverse three and a half somersaults in tuck, garnering only 52.50 points, which relegated him to third. He failed to catch up in the last three rounds and finished a disappointing fourth with 667.65 points, just four points short of Terauchi.
The biggest surprise of the final came at the last moment. Terauchi, who had been trailing the Chinese duo and Platas all through the first five rounds of the final, produced a magnificent last dive, a reverse two and a half somersaults with one and a half twists in pike, which net him a thrilling 89.25 points, the highest score in the day's program.
This hoisted him to the third place at the last minute, holding off Wang Feng, who got 76.50 points for his last dive.
Saturday's event is the first diving contest where China didn't get a one-two finish. The country has been dominating the Universiade diving pool, snatching three one-two in as many events in the past two days.
The women's 3m springboard will be held Monday. China's Guo Jingjing and Li Rongjuan, who took gold and silver in the 1m springboard two days ago, was seen as the hot favorites.
(People's Daily 08/26/2001)
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