For the first time, the world's elite divers will experience a new head-to-head competition format at the World Aquatics Diving World Cup Super Final in Beijing from May 2 to 4, organizers said here on Wednesday.
Held at China's National Aquatic Center - also known as the Water Cube - the Super Final consists of nine events and will feature 75 divers from 17 countries and regions.
Quan Hongchan, women's 10m platform gold medalist from both 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games, said she hoped to shine at her Water Cube debut.
"It will be my first time to compete in the famous Water Cube. I will compete in both synchro and individual events with my long-time partner Chen Yuxi. We will try to do our best in the new format," Quan said during the pre-meet press conference.
In the head-to-head format, the top 12 athletes in individual events will be seeded according to their rankings and paired based on their seeding. Each will choose three dives to perform, and the lower scorer in each pairing will be eliminated. In the semifinals, the remaining six divers will be divided into two groups, with the top two in each group advancing to the final.
"A big new challenge! We will present a different kind of diving competition this time and I am really excited about it. It should be more exciting for the crowd. I will try to show my best on my first competition at the Water Cube," said Wang Zongyuan, a two-time Olympic champion in the men's 3m synchronized springboard.
British diver Jack Laugher, who won the men's 3m springboard at the Rio Olympics in 2016, said the new format would give the chance for lower-ranked divers to beat more illustrious opponents.
"This makes it exciting for the crowd and exciting for the athletes as well," said Laugher.
"I'm very excited to be back in Beijing. I always like to be back in China, and I'm very honored to be able to dive here in such a prestigious place amongst some unbelievable athletes. I'm really looking forward to some different competitions," he added.
Maddison Keeney of Australia, silver medalist in the women's 3m springboard at Paris 2024, noted that the new format would force divers to consider the "strategy of dive orders."
"We will be doing the dives in a different order. It will make it really exciting and a lot more fun for the athletes. I'm really looking forward to having fun within my own group and getting into the competition with all the Chinese fans and preparing for the Singapore World Championships," Keeney said.
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