Women's springboard: Springboard king is He man

After Wu Minxia's earlier success in the women's 3m springboard competition, China recorded a diving double at the Hamad Aquatic Centre when He Chong showed why he is the current world No 1 in the men's 3m springboard by also winning gold.

He, the bronze medallist from the 2005 World Championships in Montreal, Canada, was the one to beat going into the final having finished the morning's preliminary rounds with a score of 517.85.

The 19 year-old scored even better in the final, finishing with a total 530.40 after effortlessly pulling off one of his trademark dives, a forward two-and-a-half somersault with three twists in pike position, with a 3.8 degree of difficulty. The judges awarded him 100.70 for the dive, which only a few divers in the world are able to complete in competition.

"I think my finals' performance was not better than the preliminaries," said He, looking back at his dives. "Maybe I need to resolve some psychological problems."

Disappointingly, the showdown between He and team mate Luo Yutong never occurred. Instead, it was Japan's Ken Terauchi who almost caused an upset when he went into second position after the fifth round.

The Japanese diver gained a four point lead after Luo failed to enter the water vertically in his fifth dive, a reverse three-and-a-half somersaults in tuck position.

"I saw Luo's mistake," added He. "I think the occasional accident is normal, but this year he hasn't made such a big mistake before. I think maybe he was tired after he finished yesterday's 1m springboard. He did well in the preliminaries this morning and maybe he feels pressured. And me too, in the finals I also made mistakes."

But Luo, the 1m springboard champion, showed his pedigree by ending the night with an almost perfect sixth dive and grabbed the silver medal with 488.95. Terauchi finished with 478.95, almost 20 points more than his total in the preliminary round.

China's He leaves Doha 2006 with two gold medals after also winning gold in the 3m synchronised springboard competition on Sunday 10 December. China have now finished one-two in the men's 3m springboard competition at eight consecutive Asian Games.

15th Asian Games, Doga 2006