World Aquatics Championships: China adds to gold medal haul with wins in diving and artistic swimming

Lian Junjie and Yang Hao win their third straight world title in synchronised 10-metre platform diving

Twins Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi claim narrow victory in the duet free routine of artistic swimming

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Lian Junjie and Yang Hao compete during the men’s synchronized 10m platform diving final at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Photo: AP

Published: 12:30pm, 9 Feb 2024

China added to its gold medal haul with two more victories at the World Aquatics Championships on Thursday.

Lian Junjie and Yang Hao won their third straight world title in synchronised 10-metre platform diving, while twins Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi claimed a narrow victory in the duet free routine of artistic swimming.

Also on Thursday, Australia edged Italy in a thrilling mixed 4x1,500-metre open water race at Doha Old Port.

With the Paris Olympics only five months away, it was impossible not to look ahead a bit.

“I can’t deny that we are already thinking of the gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games,” Wang Liuyi said. “A journalist showed me the 2024 Olympic Games gold medal and it is really beautiful. I want to make it mine.”

Gold medallists Junjie Lian (right) and Hao Yang at the World Aquatics Championships. Photo: EPA-EFE

Lian and Yang gave China’s powerhouse diving team its seventh gold medal in 10 events at the Hamad Aquatic Centre. They led after all six rounds to finish with 470.76 points.