honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 6:00 a.m., Saturday, August 18, 2007

University Games: China wins overall gold medal title

By DENNIS PASSA
AP Sports Writer

BANGKOK, Thailand — China won two more diving events — and the overall gold medal title — while Canada took home team silver and bronze medals today on the final day of the World University Games.

Wins by Li Ting in the women's 3-meter springboard and by Hu Jia in the men's 10-meter platform gave China the gold medal title with 32, four more than the Ukraine and Russia. Russia had the most overall medals with 92.

The United States won 10 gold medals — all in swimming — and finished in eighth place.

Lithuania beat Serbia 85-66 to win the men's basketball gold while Canada, led by Tristan Blackwood's 18 points and 15 from Theus Davis, beat Japan 90-84 for the bronze. Shohei Kikuchi led Japan with 28 points, including three 3-pointers.

Li, who competed at the world championships in Melbourne, Australia in March, finished ahead of American Christina Loukas in the 3-meter springboard. Loukas, who collected a bronze later Saturday in the 3-meter synchro, opened her program with a 63-point inward 2½ somersault pike, placing her in fifth place after the first round.

After moving up to fourth place in the second round, Loukas executed a back 2½ somersault pike in round three for 67.50 points, moving her to third place. The eight-time collegiate NCAA All-American continued her climb in the fourth round with a 70.5-point reverse 2½ somersault pike that elicited a roar from the crowd and moved her into second place.

"It's definitely a boost of confidence, because these people are the ones that Ill be competing against if I make the Olympic team," Loukas said. "Its a great motivator because now I know I can compete with them."

Loukas later combined with partner Amanda Miller to take bronze in the women's 3-meter synchro.

The closing ceremonies were scheduled for later Saturday, where golfer Jennifer Tangtiphaiboontana of Long Beach, California, was to be the flag bearer for the United States.

She helped the U.S. women's team to a bronze medal and finished fourth individually in the tournament with a four-round score of 299, including a 1-under-par 71 in both the second and fourth rounds.

Tangtiphaiboontana, whose late parents moved to the U.S. from Thailand and who speaks fluent Thai, graduated from Stanford University this year with a degree in biology.

"It's the best way to cap off this great experience," said Tangtiphaiboontana. "I've never really played in an event where I represented the USA, which makes this such a huge honor."

The closing ceremony was scheduled to end with the passing of the Games flag to officials from Belgrade, Serbia, where the next summer edition of the University Games will be held in 2009.