Dubai: The world’s best divers arrived in Dubai on Monday ahead of the second leg of the four-stage Fina/NVC Diving World Series at the Hamdan Sports Complex this weekend.
Among the first to arrive was 2012 Olympic 10-metre platform bronze medallist Tom Daley of Great Britain, who just missed out on a podium finish by 0.95 points in round one of the series in Beijing last weekend, where Chen Aisen eventually pipped Qiu Bo to gold.
“It was a bit frustrating to be less than a point outside of a medal individually,” said Daley. “But Dan [Goodfellow] and I managed to get a bronze medal in synchro. I’m pretty excited to come here to Dubai and replicate some of that. Every year the competition gets harder but with it being an Olympic year everyone is ready to go out and do the best they can. It’s exciting to be competing against the best divers in the world in so many different locations. The event here in Dubai is always amazing with the crowd support which gets the atmosphere going. I hope to have some free time to enjoy Dubai also, there’s always so much to do here.”
Chinese divers clinched the remaining three titles on the platform on the last day in Beijing and swept all the 10 gold medals on offer over the weekend.
Fresh from her 10-metre platform victory in Beijing, Si Yajie said: “I am looking forward to a steady performance in Dubai, competition is definitely stronger than before with it being an Olympic year.”
The four stage series heads to Windsor, Canada and Kazan, Russia after Dubai. Divers compete for points and prize money at each of the 10 events, in the categories of three-metre springboard and 10-metre platform in solo, synchro and mixed synchro diving.
There will be two sessions on each day, from 10am-12 noon and from 5-8pm. Tickets are available at the door and cost Dh50 a day, free for children under 12.
