(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-01 10:29

SHENZHEN -- China swept all of the three gold medals in the first-day competitions of the FINA Diving Grand Prix in Shenzhen on Friday.

"Diving Queen" Guo Jingjing and her synchronized partner Wu Minxia convincingly claimed gold in women's three-meter springboard at 343.80 points, beating their closest rivals Sharleen Stratton/Briony Cole of Australia, who posted 311.94, by more than 30 points.

Mexican pair Jashia Luna and Laura Sanchez of Mexico took bronze at 277.17.

"We performed our normal level today. But we still need to improve ourselves in some dives," said Wu Minxia, who just claimed gold with Guo at the World Cup in Beijing last week.

China's teenager Chen Ruolin beat her teammate Wang Xin at the last dive to win the women's 10m platform at 428.10, only two points more than Wang, winner of the event at 2007 Melbourne World Championships.

The bronze medal went to Mexican Paola Espinosa at 385.30, bronze medalist at the Beijing World Cup.

"I'm not satisfied with my performance today," said Chen after winning gold, adding she was not in good shape and felt tired after the World Cup.

Wang regretted her last dive after which she lost leading position and fell to the second place. "I didn't make big mistakes today, but the last dive was disappointing," she said.

In the men's 10m platform synchronized event, China's world champion pair Lin Yue/Huo Liang clinched gold at 481.32, keeping a good lead over other divers.

Russian pair Minibaev Victor/Semen Kokunov posted 422.43 points to pocket silver, while Kim Chon Man/Pak Kwang Chon from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea took bronze at 413.91.

Opened on Friday afternoon, the three-day Shenzhen leg has drawn 103 divers from 19 countries and regions.

Divers are expected to compete for the other six gold medals in the following two-day competitions.