QIN TAKES FIFTH BUT MORE HEARTBREAK FOR KEENEY IN KAZAN

Australia’s Esther Qin has finished fifth in the final of the 1-metre springboard at the Kazan Aquatics World Championships, but there was more heartbreak for the prodigiously talented Perth teenager, Maddison Keeney.

Keeney had worked her way back into medal contention after a slow start to the final, only to misjudge her take-off on her final dive to return a no score.

The failed dive, easily her most difficult and potentially her biggest scoring, meant Keeney finished 12th.

China’s dominance in the diving pool finally came to an end, with Italy’s Tania Cagnotto taking gold, ahead of Chinese pair Shi Y=Tingmao and He Zi.

Keeney attempts dives no other diver in the world can do, and her high risk strategy brings big rewards.

But it is high risk, underlined by a baulk in the same event at the Commonwealth Games last year which cost her a gold.

Qin sent out a warning for her rivals in her pet event, the 3-metre springboard, with a solid performance in the 1-metre.

She made a small error on her fourth dive, which put her out of medal contention, but bounced back to finish with a high-scoring dive to fill her with confidence ahead of the 3-metre.

Qin won the gold medal in the 3-metre at last year’s Commonwealth Games.

Keeney will also be looking to bounce back in the 3-metre, and will also contest the mixed 3-metre synchro with Victorian James Connor.

Earlier on Tuesday Connor and fellow Victorian, Grant Nel, qualified in 10th position for the final of the men’s 3-metre springboard early Wednesday morning.