
World Aquatics Championships: China's Xu, Lin twins make strong start to artistic events
Advertisement
The 19-year-old, who won five gold medals at the World Cup Super Final last month, was head and shoulders above her rivals in the solo technical discipline, as she began her bid for a first world title.
Xu posted a score of 265.8984 in the preliminary round, with Vasilina Khandoshka second in 254.8200 and Spain's Iris Tio Casas who scored 253.7691.
On a day when she was comfortably better than her rivals, Xu's only issue, other than the 'motivation and pressure' that came from being the favourite, was performing her routine in a cold pool.
'It was a pretty stable showing,' Xu said. 'I was a little nervous before the performance, because the water temperature here is a little lower than I'm used to. I was concerned if it would affect my ability to perform certain moves.
Advertisement
'The pool temperature is lower than what we train in at home. It'll be important to make sure I warm up well.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
World Aquatics Championships: China claim trio of golds to continue diving dominance
China swept both diving finals to secure three gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Sunday, continuing their long-held dominance of the sport. There were two golds in the mixed synchronised 10-metre platform and another in the men's 1m springboard event. Zhu Yongxin and Xie Peiling, diving together at a major international meet for the first time, topped the mixed event with 323.04 points, finishing just ahead of North Korea's Choe Wi-hyon and Jo Jin-mi, who scored 322.98. The Chinese pair were ranked last out of 12 competitors after the first of five dives, but held steady to climb the rankings and took the top spot following their fourth dive. Neutral athletes Aleksandr Bondar and Anna Konanykhina claimed bronze with 311.88. 'This wasn't an easy win; it was a tough battle, and in the end, we won by just a tiny margin,' Zhu said. 'Looking back, I felt a bit nervous about how close it was. But ultimately, I'm really glad we managed to secure the victory.'


South China Morning Post
8 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
More top clubs tipped to follow Liverpool to Hong Kong, but Kai Tak pitch concerns remain
Two of the key figures in bringing 'some of the best football on the planet' to Hong Kong have indicated that marquee fixtures could become a staple of the city's sporting calendar. Kai Tak Stadium's ongoing Hong Kong Football Festival has received rave reviews from fans, managers and players. AC Milan beat Liverpool 4-2 in front of almost 50,000 supporters on Saturday, with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur set to meet on Thursday. Organisers would have been alarmed, nonetheless, to hear Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk double down on his criticism of the pitch on Saturday, hours after Kai Tak Sports Park CEO John Sharkey had issued a robust defence of the surface. However, the arena's air conditioning has been a hit with players, and it allowed Milan and Liverpool to deliver a brisk, competitive contest. 'This demonstrates what the investment in Kai Tak has been about,' Sharkey said. 'It's hot and humid, but in climate-controlled conditions, we'll see some of the best football on the planet played in Hong Kong in the middle of July, in a way that couldn't have happened without this stadium. 'We're delighted to host this first festival of football, in line with the ambitions we had for this venue.'


The Standard
10 hours ago
- The Standard
Amateur football leagues win over cynical Chinese fans
Fans watch the amateur league football match between Suzhou and Yangzhou at the Kunshan Olympic Sport Center in Kunshan, in eastern China's Jiangsu province on June 29, 2025. (AFP)