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Tian, Guo open Chinese gold rush

August 15, 2004 23:46 IST

China's top divers Tian Liang and Guo Jingjing claimed the first two titles on offer at the Athens Olympics diving competition on Sunday.

Tian teamed with Yang Jinghui to win the men's synchronised 10m platform after Guo and Wu Minxia won the women's three-metre springboard title.

China could claim two more titles from diving on Monday as World champions Lao Lishi and Li Ting, both aged 17, look assured of the synchronised platform gold while Peng Bo and Wang Kenan should take the men's synchronised springboard gold.

China won three of the four individual titles in Sydney four years ago, and are hoping to sweep the synchronized events this time.

Peter Waterfield and Leon Taylor ended Britian's 44-year wait for an Olympic diving medal with a silver after achieving 371.52 points to the Chinese divers' 383.88.

The medal was the first for Britain since Brian Phelps was third in the 10m platform at the 1960 Olympics.