BANGKOK, Thailand, 19 August 2007 — China won two more diving events — and the overall gold medal title — while Canada took home team silver and bronze medals yesterday 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 overall gold medal title with 32 — four more than the Ukraine and Russia. Russia had the most number of 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 yesterday 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.
Turkey beat Canada 3-1 (25-11, 23-25, 25-16, 25-21) in the men’s volleyball gold medal final. The United States defeated Italy 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-16) at Thammasat University outside Bangkok to take the bronze. Evan Patak led the American volleyballers with 12 points.
“We know we’re a really good team, and we could very easily be competing for the gold right now,” said Patak.
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 in the 3-meter synchro, opened her program with a 63-point inward 2 1-2 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 2 1-2 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 2 1-2 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 I’ll 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, where golfer Jennifer Tangtiphaiboontana of Long Beach, California, was to be the flag bearer for the United States.
She helped the US 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 US from Thailand and who speaks fluent Thai, graduated from Stanford University this year with a degree in biology.
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 25th University Games will be held in 1-12 July 2009.
