Gold medalist Lian Junjie (L) and bronze medalist Zhao Renjie of China pose after the awarding ceremony for the men's 10m platform final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
TOKYO, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Olympic champion Lian Junjie won the men's 10m platform gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Wednesday, delivering China's 100th Asian Games diving gold medal and completing the Chinese team's sweep of all 10 diving titles at the Games.
Lian scored 501.25 points at the Tokyo Aquatics Center to take the title. Japan's Rikuto Tamai finished second with 497.20 points, while China's 15-year-old Zhao Renjie took bronze with 427.50.
"First of all, I'm very happy," Lian said. "To win the 10th gold medal for the Chinese diving team at these Games, and the 100th Asian Games diving gold in the team's history, on the final day of the competition, was really hard-earned. I'm very happy that we managed to hold on to it."
Lian built his advantage in the fourth and fifth dives, scoring 91.80 points on both his reverse 3 1/2 somersaults and back 3 1/2 somersaults. He finished with 501.25 points. Tamai, also the Paris Olympic silver medalist, scored 93.60 points on his final dive but finished 4.05 points behind Lian.
"It was another silver medal, but more than anything, I feel a great sense of relief," Tamai said. "Of course, I was aiming for gold, but there was also a part of me that realistically thought I might finish with bronze. So I'm really happy that I was able to move up a place and win a medal here at home."
China's Zhao, making his Asian Games debut, meanwhile made an eye-catching start. He scored 86.40 and 91.80 points on his opening two dives before producing 96.90 points on his stunning third dive, a reverse 3 1/2 somersaults. The first three dives also saw judges award several perfect 10s.
"I felt pretty much the same as I did in training," Zhao said of his opening rounds. "I was able to bring out what I normally do in training."
The 15-year-old then suffered two costly mistakes on his fourth and fifth dives, earning only 27.00 and 44.40 respectively, but recovered to finish with bronze.
"There was a little fluctuation in my emotions, but I adjusted afterward," Zhao said. "My coach told me not to be nervous and not to think about the previous dive. Every dive is a new beginning."
Tamai also spoke about Zhao, "I see him as a strong rival," he said. "He's a lovely kid and is well-liked by everyone around him. But I try not to be pulled into that and instead compete with him as an equal athlete." The Japanese diver said the two were similar in some ways and described Zhao as being "like a younger brother."
For Lian, the gold also carried a deeply personal meaning. When he first arrived at the Tokyo Aquatics Center, he said he was quite emotional because the venue reminded him of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, when he missed out on selection and could only watch his teammates compete on television.
"Being able to come here and compete individually was already very difficult for me," said Lian, now 25. "To be able to come here, win the gold medal and complete what I wanted to do, I feel it is something really worth remembering. In a way, it is also a form of closure for me."
Lian, who has already won the men's synchronized 10m platform title with Yang Hao at these Games, said the men's platform remains one of the most competitive events in diving.
"There is never such a thing as being assured of victory on the 10m platform," he said. "It is about who can withstand the pressure and who can adjust their mindset better."
Earlier in the day, Olympic champion Chen Yiwen scored 358.05 to win the women's 3m springboard title, also China's 99th diving gold in Asiad. Teammate Chen Jia finished second with 347.45 points, while Japan's Sayaka Mikami took bronze with 332.35.
The victory gave Chen her second gold medal at the Games, after she teamed up with Chen Jia to win the women's synchronized 3m springboard title on Sunday. Chen said she had arrived in Aichi-Nagoya aiming for two gold medals, but admitted the road to completing the target had not been easy.
"I was aiming for two gold medals, so the result was in line with my expectations, but the process could definitely have been better," Chen said. "I've had some ups and downs in form over the past two years, so I put some pressure on myself."
Beyond the medals, Chinese divers also pointed to the hard work and values passed down from one generation to the next as key to the team's sustained success.
"First of all, it all comes down to hard training," Lian said. "Without hard training, there would be no solid fundamentals, physical reserves or the ability to adjust mentally."
But training alone is not the whole story. Lian, who once learned from senior divers, now sees himself as part of the generation responsible for passing that experience on.
"I hope the younger athletes can see the spirit of our predecessors, never giving up and continuing to work hard," he said. "I also hope I can set a good example for them."
The younger diver Zhao has already identified Lian as someone he looks up to. "Lian Junjie is particularly strong, and he is also my idol," Zhao said. And for him, the path ahead is already clear.
"I hope to learn from the older brothers, make it to the Olympic stage and become an Olympic champion," he added. ■
Lian Junjie (bottom) and Zhao Renjie of China react during the men's 10m platform final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Ohkubo Shu of Japan competes during the men's 10m platform final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Lian Junjie of China competes during the men's 10m platform final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Gold medalist Lian Junjie poses after the awarding ceremony for the men's 10m platform final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Tamai Rikuto of Japan competes during the men's 10m platform final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Gold medalist Lian Junjie (C), silver medalist Tamai Rikuto (L) of Japan and bronze medalist Zhao Renjie of China pose during the awarding ceremony for the men's 10m platform final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)
Gold medalist Lian Junjie poses during the awarding ceremony for the men's 10m platform final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)
Gold medalist Lian Junjie (C), silver medalist Tamai Rikuto (L) of Japan and bronze medalist Zhao Renjie of China pose during the awarding ceremony for the men's 10m platform final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)
Gold medalist Lian Junjie (C) , silver medalist Tamai Rikuto (L) of Japan and bronze medalist Zhao Renjie of China pose after the awarding ceremony for the men's 10m platform final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)
Chen Yiwen of China, gold medalist of the women's 3m springboard and women's synchronised 3m springboard poses for photos after diving competition at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)
Chen Yiwen of China, gold medalist of the women's 3m springboard and women's synchronised 3m springboard poses for photos after diving competition at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Chen Yuxi of China, gold medalist of the women's 10m platform and women's synchronised 10m platform poses for photos after diving competition at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Chen Yuxi of China, gold medalist of the women's 10m platform and women's synchronised 10m platform, poses for photos after diving competition at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Lin Shan of China, gold medalist of the women's 1m springboard poses for photos after diving competition at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)
Lin Shan of China, gold medalist of the women's 1m springboard poses for photos after diving competition at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Chen Yuxi of China, gold medalist of the women's 10m platform and women's synchronised 10m platform poses for photos after diving competition at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Chen Yuxi of China, gold medalist of the women's 10m platform and women's synchronised 10m platform poses for photos after diving competition at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)
Chen Jia of China greets the spectators ahead of the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Chen Yiwen of China greets the spectators ahead of the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Chen Jia of China greets the spectators ahead of the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Kim Suji of South Korea greets the spectators ahead of the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Mikami Sayaka of Japan competes during the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Chen Jia of China competes during the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Chen Jia of China competes during the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Kim Suji of South Korea competes during the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Mikami Sayaka of Japan competes during the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
China's Chen Yiwen celebrates during the awarding ceremony of the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
China's Chen Yiwen celebrates during the awarding ceremony of the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
China's Chen Yiwen (R) and Chen Jia celebrate during the awarding ceremony of the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
China's Chen Yiwen (C) and Chen Jia (L), Mikami Sayaka of Japan celebrate during the awarding ceremony of the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
China's Chen Jia celebrates during the awarding ceremony of the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
China's Chen Yiwen (C) and Chen Jia (L), Mikami Sayaka of Japan celebrate during the awarding ceremony of the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
China's Chen Yiwen celebrates during the awarding ceremony of the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
China's Chen Jia competes during the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)
China's Chen Jia competes during the women's 3m springboard final of diving at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)
