Chinese Wins 8th Diving Gold at World Swimming Championships

Chinese Tian Liang Wins Gold of Men's Platform

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Olympic champion and world championships silver-medalist Tian Liang of China came from behind to win the platform diving title with a total score of 688.77 points at the 9th FINA world swimming championships Sunday in Fukuoka.

This was China's eighth gold medal out of 10 diving events here.

Alexander Despatie of Canada led the 12-member final field after the fourth round with 520.95 points, against 508.53 by then second-placed Chinese. Overtaken by Tian after the fifth dive, Despatie had to settle for the silver with 670.95 points.

Australia's Mathew Helm took the bronze with 670.23.

"I felt nervous a bit during the final," Tian admitted after the narrow win. "Other divers performed extremely well today. I felt the pressure," he added.

"I feel very good and my feeling is great," said Despatie. "At the beginning of the day, I didn't feel that I would pull out an medal. But I"m happy I could," he added.

"I can't talk. I'm so happy as this is my personal best," said Helm after the final. "Tonight I could hit all my dives consistently and that's what got me to the medal," he added.