Guangdong, China – At the Chinese mainland's 15th National Games, Shanxi diver Li Yajie soared to victory in the women's 1m springboard, claiming gold with a total score of 330.55 on Wednesday. In a field of 21 competitors, the 23-year-old world and Asian Games champion led from the first splash, posting scores above eight in her first four dives and building a 33.90-point cushion that proved unassailable.
Chasing the hype was Sichuan's Chen Jia, fresh off three consecutive wins over Olympic champion Chen Yiwen, but Li's consistency and poise stole the show. A small wobble on her final 405C dive did little to dim her triumph as Shaanxi's Long Yiping settled for silver.
On the men's side, Shandong’s Lian Junjie delivered a standout performance in the all-around, where each of the 15 finalists tackled 12 dives – six springboard and six platform. The 25-year-old birthday boy soared past veteran Cao Yuan, the two-time Olympic champion, with a near-perfect closing 109C that not only earned the session's highest single-dive score but also secured Lian's title on a total of 1,005.10 points.
The Chinese mainland's National Games once again highlighted the next generation of diving stars, promising an exciting lead-up to international meets where these young talents will aim to leave their mark on the world stage.
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Li Yajie wins women's 1m springboard at China's 15th National Games
cgtn.com
