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PAGE 4 • AUGUST 17, 2011 CHINA DAILY DIVING YOUNG CHINESE PLUNGE FOR GOLD SHENZHEN — China’s junior diving “dream team” showed early dominance of the pool by win- ning the two gold medals on off er during the fi rst day of competition at the Universiade yesterday. Olympic and world champion Qin Kai teamed with budding talent Lin Jin to claim the champion- ship in the men’s synchronized 3m springboard before teenage diver Shi Tingmao clinched the women’s 1m springboard, an event which she also won at the Shanghai World Championships last month. “I still made a mistake in a routine,” Qin said. “I want to challenge myself again and reuse that stunt. I did it without enough practice, and it’s not easy to do,” said Qin, who lost to national teammate He Chong at the Shanghai event’s 3m springboard fi nal due to the same mistake. Shi said her performance wasn’t perfect, with a fl aw during a spin, but said she has “learned a lot from the unique Universiade experience”. GAO ERQIANG / CHINA DAILY SUN XIAOCHEN Macao’s twin divers, Choi Su-Tian (left) and Choi Su-Kuan, answer reporters’ questions after the competition. Twin sisters add a twist to synchro SIBLINGS AT THE FOREFRONT OF MACAO’S DESIRE TO BECOME A FORCE IN DIVING By SUN XIAOCHEN wasn’t able to fulfi ll. I feel proud of her,” CHINA DAILY We love the sport said Zhang, who clinched the 10m plat- Diving coach jumps very much but early form’s national championship in 1974 SHENZHEN — Despite lackluster on we lacked pro- before retiring from the pool four years performances on the springboard, later. back in with both feet Macao twin sisters Choi Su-Tian and fessional guidance. “It’s defi nitely a big confi dence boost Choi Su-Kuan still enjoyed their Uni- Coach Zhang’s for me to continue my diving career By SUN XIAOCHEN versiade debut. coming gave us and to compete here,” Choi Su-Tian CHINA DAILY Coming to the Shen- a chance to learn said. zhen meet as underdogs, ‘‘ As full-time college students, the SHENZHEN — Zhang Zilin’s 40-year diving career the 21-year-old pair was some real skills.” twins have to make up all the time they has come full circle. eliminated from the 1m CHOI SU-KUAN have off school. Th ey practice two hours Th e Macao diving team’s coach started her profes- springboard finals yes- DIVER FROM MACAO a day and travel to Guangzhou on week- sional career in 1971 and peaked when she claimed the DIVING terday at the opening ends for tough sessions. national title on the 10m platform in 1971. event of the week-long Zhang, who treated the twins as her She met her husband — one of her coaches — while diving competition. East Asian Games in Macao, where the own daughters during their summer on the national team. Although eliminated early, Choi host launched its campaign to improve vacation camp in Guangzhou, prefers Zhang decided to be a teacher in Guangzhou Univer- Su-Tian and her sister still felt satisfi ed the sport’s profi le. to play the “villain’s role” in the pool, sity in Guangdong’s provincial capital aft er leaving the with their performances and said they The Swimming Association of requiring the sisters to repeat each dive pool in 1978. enjoyed being at a carnival for interna- Macao China helped the sisters take until it’s perfect. She and her husband later moved to Laos to run a tional students. part in the past three FINA World “As an athlete, I know it’s all about timber company. “Actually, the 1m is not my best event Championships and hired Zhang to the details at the elite level. I hope they Zhang never imagined she would return to the pool and I made tiny mistakes today. But I coach them in 2007. can enjoy that split second when they until she received the call from Macao. thought I did well and I feel happy. “We love the sport very much but plunge into the water without any “It was a tough time for me when they found me,” “Moreover, it’s a rare opportunity for early on we lacked professional guid- faults,” Zhang said. Zhang said. me to compete at such a big internation- ance. Coach Zhang’s coming gave us Aft er the non-Olympic 1m spring- She returned to China with her son aft er her husband al meet and to talk with other countries’ a chance to learn some real skills,” said board, Choi Su-Tian will compete in passed away in 2002. top young divers. It’s a fantastic experi- Choi Su-Kuan. her favorite 3m event on Aug 20 before “Returning to the pool, which I missed for years, was ence,” said Choi Su-Tian. Zhang’s lessons paid off when Choi teaming with her sister for the fi rst time a great relief to me during that tough time,” she said. Before showcasing their stunts in the Su-Tian won a bronze medal in the 3m in four years in the synchronized event “I feel so excited to continue the dream I shared with Shenzhen spotlight, the sisters spent springboard at last year’s Guangzhou two days later. my husband.” four tough years under coach Zhang Asian Games. Choi Su-Tian expects her “birth con- She will likely be coaching an ever-improving team, Zilin’s mother-like care and strict guid- It was Macao’s first diving medal nection” with her sister to benefi t their because Macao’s swimming association started an eight- ance. at the event and was evidence of the performance. year program to recruit and cultivate youth to invest in Inspired by China’s “Diving Queen” coach’s fi ne guidance. “I don’t know (if the twin relationship the sport’s future. Guo Jingjing, the slightly-built twins “I was so happy to see her improve will help), but I hope so. Anyway, we “We have 16 youngsters in the program now, and I started in the sport 10 years ago before so much and stand on the podium at just need to limit the faults and try our believe the number will soon sharply increase,” she said. debuting on the world stage at the 2005 a major event. It’s also a dream that I best,” said Choi Su-Tian. “Hopefully, all of our eff orts will pay off .”.