China boost tally with diving, 20 km walk wins

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Sydney: China easily won two golds on Thursday in synchronised platform diving and added a third with a dramatic win in the women's 20 km walk.

China took both the men's and the women's synchronised three metre springboard diving golds with disciplined performances which left their competitors far behind.

Li Na and Sang Xue scored 345.12, well in front of the 312.03 by Canadians Emilie Heymans and Anne Montminy.

An hour later Xiao Hailiang and Xiong Ni took the men's title ahead of Russia's Alexander Dobroskok and Dimitry Sautin. It was Xiong Ni's second gold in Sydney and his third overall, coming two days after he retained his three-metre springboard title.

China also have three diving silvers in Sydney, and were looking for another gold from either Fu Mingxia or Guo Jingjing, the two top qualifiers for the final of the women's three-metre springboard.

Fu is bidding for a record-equalling fourth Olympic diving gold. "I can only try because no one can guarantee a fourth gold medal. That is the question mark," Fu said.

China's third gold of the day came from Wang Liping, who took the women's 20 km walk gold after the three walkers in front of her were disqualified in the closing stages.

Australian Jane Saville, the last to be thrown out just as she entered the stadium, immediately burst into tears. The other two who were disqualified earlier were Liu Hongyu of China and Italy's Elisabetta Perrone.

After 12 days of competition, China are by far the top Asian nation with 25 golds. South Korea and Japan have five each and Indonesia one.

While China is second in the medal table behind the United States, rival Taiwan failed in their search for their first-ever Olympic gold.

Taekwondo chances lost

Taiwan, who have won three Olympic silvers but never a gold, appeared to have solid chances of striking gold in taekwondo.

But their last two hopes in the new Olympic sport lost on Thursday. Hsu Chi-hung was knocked out in the first round of the men's 68 kg class by Hadi Saeibonehkohal of Iran and Hsu Chih-ling lost to Hamide Bikcin of Turkey in the women's 57 kg quarter-finals.

Taekwondo, an ancient martial art which resembles karate but focuses on kicks with bare feet, is Korea's national sport but is very popular in Taiwan.In an Asian semi-final face-off in men's hockey, tradition-laden Pakistan will play South Korea, who finished fifth in Atlanta.

Pakistan, who have won three Olympics golds, are trying to bounce back from a sixth place finish four years ago, their worst placing ever.

While arch-rivals Pakistan continue their revival, India slipped again on Thursday, losing 2-1 to Britain.

India now play the loser of the Germany-Argentina game for seventh spot. A loss would equal India's worst-ever finish, eighth in Atlanta four years ago.

Sri Lankan sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe runs in the semi-finals of the women's 200 metres on Thursday evening with hopes of giving her country their first Olympic medal in more than 50 years.

Jayasinghe's time of 22.54 was the fourth fastest time going into the semi-finals behind Beverly McDonald of Jamaica (22.44), Melinda Gainsford-Taylor of Australia (22.49) and favourite Marion Jones of the United States (22.50).

The final will be run on Thursday night.

The only Asian who will be boxing on Thursday night is North Korean Kim Un Chol, who goes up against Spain's Rafael Munoz Lozano in the 48 kg semi-final.



(c) Reuters Limited.