(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-11-30 08:54

Former world diving champion Tian Liang married his girlfriend, singer Ye Yiqian, in his hometown of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province yesterday.

China's diving prince, 2000 and 2004 Olympic champion Tian Liang (R) and 2005 Super Girl contestant Ye Yiqian (L) laugh at their wedding ceremony in Shangri-La Hotel, Xi'an of Northwest China November 29, 2007. The pair's love story has been in spotlight in China since 2006. [sohu] Click for more photos

The 29-year-old diver is the second high-profile Chinese athlete to get married this year, following Houston Rockets All-Star center Yao Ming, who married his long-time girlfriend, 24-year-old Ye Li, in June.

An extravagant wedding ceremony was held at the five-star Shangri-La Hotel in Xi'an, with some 80 family members and relatives present, according to Sohu.com.

The ceremony, which lasted three hours, included an exchange of rings, the sharing of wedding cake, and tea and flower offerings to the parents as an expression of gratitude, the website reported.

An estimated 50 security guards oversaw the ceremony, which boasted 20 dinner tables and 5,000-yuan ($676)-per-plate dinners. About 100 reporters also were on site.

"This is the best moment of my life," said Ye, whose wedding dress reportedly cost more than 100,000 yuan ($13,510). "I want to be a good wife and take care of our parents. I really, really cherish my love with Tian Liang."

Tian, the two-time Olympic gold medalist, and his musical bride, a "Super Girl" contestant in 2005, received their official marriage certificate in Xi'an a month ago.

Tian and Ye started dating in early 2006, but their relationship was kept under wraps until late October of that year when media reports revealed that Tian had bought an apartment for Ye as a gift.

The couple was also spotted at this year's Qingdao International Sailing Regatta in July, where they participated in an event called "Yachting Camp for Lovers".

Now a senior official at Shaanxi Sports Bureau, Tian, who won Olympic golds in the 10-meter platform at the Sydney Games in 2000 and the synchronized platform in Athens in 2004, is one of the most controversial sports star in China.

He was expelled from China's national team for taking on too many commercial activities and allegedly refused to return to the team following the Athens Olympics.