Chinese divers issue strong warning to rivals

Dubai World Champion Qui Bo has forewarned that this week's Fina/Midea Diving World Series 2012 might not witness any major alterations at the top of the standings. "I would not term it dominance, but it is just that China has an excellent set of divers who are always eager to win," Bo told media at the pre-event conference at the imposing Hamdan Bin Mohammad Sports Complex yesterday in the presence of Ahmad Al Falasi, president, UAE Swimming Association and Abdullah Shahdad, vice chairman of the organising committee. "Personally, I enjoy the pressure of competing. It is the pressure that moves me to raise my game and get stronger. My challenge is always to beat myself. And each time I come to the pool, I am always thinking about improving as a diver," the 19-year-old Chinese added. Bo will be one of the main attractions tomorrow and on Saturday at the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Sports Complex when the opening race of the four-round Fina/Midea Diving World Series takes off. The remaining three rounds will be held before next month, with stops in Beijing (March 23-24), Moscow (April 13-14) and Tijuana, Mexico (April 20-21). Clean sweep China has a team that has long before proved its credentials. They made a clean sweep of the gold medals at last year's world championships, taking all ten gold on offer. Joining Bo is 3m Springboard champion He Chong, women's 3m Springboard champion Wu Minxia — who along with He Zi is also the 3m Springboard Synchro world champion. The Chinese team also features women's 10m Platform Synchro Chen Ruolin with Wang Hao, men's 3m Springboard team of Qin Kai and Luo Yutong and the 10m Synchro pair of Cao Yuan and Yanquan. Other nations are trying to catch up and Canada's Jennifer Abel, who has been one of the promising divers on the scene, said: "I learn a lot from competing against such a high quality field of divers. "Every competition is about getting better by watching them [Chinese] perform. I don't think I am dominated by the Chinese, but it's just that I am getting better." The UK's baby faced Tom Daley may perhaps be among the few who could genuinely compete with the strong Chinese presence. "It is very important for Fina to be here in Dubai through these events," Fina official Jesus Mena said. "This is arguably the best pool I have seen in my 34 years' association with the sport and we can expect a fantastic competition on the water," he added.