Returning stars help China dominate Super Final opening day

The trio of Chang Hao, Feng Yu and Xiang Binxuan, who were part of their nation’s history-making Paris 2024 gold medal-winning line-up, made their first World Cup appearances of the season to help China claim victory in the Team Technical event.

Earlier home-nation favourite Xu Huiyan, who was also part of that team line-up, had the first of three victories, in the Women's Solo Technical and then alongside Lin Yanjun in the Women's Duet Technical.

The other contest – the Men's Solo Technical final – saw Diego Villalobos Carrillo of Mexico deny China a clean-sweep of the opening day honours by edging out teenager Guo Muye, who was second.

Team Technical – China, Spain and Japan Secure Podium Finishes

Spain attained a clean-sweep of the Team Technical titles across the Paris, Somabay and Markham legs of the regular World Cup circuit and delivered another highly energetic as well as entertaining execution of their routine to the iconic ‘Backstreet’s Back’ track.

276.1408 was short of their highest score of the season, 276.2168 in Canada, but was still highly competitive and described as “world class” by commentator Andrea Holland.

It put the Olympic bronze medallists in strong contention for victory, moving more than four points clear of rivals Japan at this stage, who had attained an overall score of 266.6599 for their ‘Basketball’ theme performance.

However, there was still one team to take to the water, China, the reigning Olympic, World and Asian champions who were debuting their new routine.

As expected, the eight-strong line-up delivered a dazzling display with power, precision as well as creativity, and in short, pure class.

The crowed enjoyed witnessing the performance and so did the judges, who awarded them an event-winning total of 277.2258, a margin of victory by 1.0850 points from Spain.

“I'd rate us an 8/10,” Olympic champion Chang Hao told World Aquatics after the medal ceremony.

“We're currently in a transition period with veteran and new athletes working together, so there are inevitably still some (team integration) and coordination issues to work through. 

Chang continued: “That's why we need more time to repeatedly refine our teamwork before we can perform at our best.

But honestly, after these seven months of intensive closed-door training, we've already shown significant improvement compared to before.”

Olympic bronze medallist Paula Ramirez admitted the Spanish team “loved” China’s routine and were “amazed” by their performance.

“They are so good and also we think it’s super artistic, that is the thing we love most. I think it’s the best routine together with ours.”

Team-mate Cristina Arambula Casares continued: “I think we did a great performance. 

“We are trying to perfect our routine at every competition, and we are one step closer to the World Championships.”

Former World champion Tomoka Sato of Japan said her side did their “best” on the day, but “have a lot to improve” on, after witnessing the performances of China and Spain.

Kazakhstan were disqualified from the nine-strong final after an error was made with the naming of one of their athletes in the pre-event paperwork.

Women’s Duet Technical – China, Japan and Spain Set The Standard

As an Olympic discipline the Women’s Duet events always a highly-anticipated affairs and this 11-strong final featured a host of athletes expected to be challenging for major honours at the World Aquatics Championships in July.

China’s Wang Qianyi and Wang Liuyi claimed gold at Paris 2024, but they are still absent from their nation’s elite squad after post-Games breaks and in their absence Lin sisters Yanjun and Yanhan performed well on the World Cup circuit.

They placed second and third in Markham, but since returning to training in their homeland, the partnership has been revised, with Yanhan replaced by 19-year-old Xu Huiyan.

They are now reaping the rewards, with the pair attaining an astounding combined total of 289.6150 to finish 8.1841 points clear of Japan’s highly experienced duo Moe Higa and Tomoka Sato, who have won 16 World Championship honours between them.

Rounding off the top-three were the rapidly improving teenage duo of Txell Ferrer Gaset and Lilou Lluis Valette (277.8075), who were the youngest members of Spain’s Olympic bronze medal-winning line-up at Paris 2024.

“Compared to when I partnered with my sister, Huiyan is technically more accomplished,” Lin told World Aquatics. “Working with her gives me greater stability - I can focus on refining my own movements while synchronising with her rhythm."

Xu added: “Considering we've only been training together for three weeks, I think we've made significant progress. But if you're asking whether we could do better - absolutely.”

Sato stated she and Higa needed to improve ahead of Singapore 2025, if they are to challenge for a place on the top step of the podium. 

“As a new duo, we felt extremely nervous, but we trained intensely before the competition and trusted in our skills,” she told World Aquatics.

“We performed our best today but we still failed to win the gold medal, so we need to work harder and we want to improve our artistic expression in the future.”

Spanish duet Ferrer Gaset and Lluis Valette said “enjoyment” was a key factor in their performance as they gain more experience as a duet.

“We feel very proud of our performance, but also, we are looking forward to keeping, improving our routine,” said Ferrer Gaset. “Our goal for the World Championships is to just enjoy, and we know that if we enjoy, we can show our best very soon.”

Women's Solo Technical – Xu, Tio Casas and Khandoshka Claim Impressive Medals

The first action of the opening day at the 2025 Super Final saw the a high-class 12-strong field deliver some of the strongest performances witnessed in the water this season.

Unfortunately for Maria Alavidze of Georgia, who was seen as an outside medal contender after a podium finish in Markham and strong displays across the season, she incurred a base mark and reduced degree of difficulty score, which put her out of contention.

European silver medallist Iris Tio Casas, who was part of Spain’s Olympic bronze medal-winning line-up in 2024, is competing in the solo disciplines for the first time on the World Cup circuit this season and won in her debut in Paris.

Her ‘stay with you’ themed routine continues to undergo adaptations, but it was another strong display from the 22-year-old, who will also compete in Mixed Duet Free final with Dennis Gonzalez Boneu over the weekend.

She scored 249.3550 to move into medal contention.

Germany’s Klara Bleyer, who won the Solo Free title at European Championships earlier this month, is enjoying her best season to date, but her score of 246.0801 would see her miss out on a further podium in the Super Final.

That was also the case for Japan’s Moe Higa, who scored 239.3450, but one of the most consistent performers so far in 2025 – Vasilina Khandoshka – would make the podium with a score of 248.2900, for her ‘Funny Girl’ themed routine.

Only China’s Xu Huiyan could deny Tio Casas and Khandoshka the major medals. In front of adoring home fans, she would do just that.

The teenager executed a spellbinding ‘Love sickness’ routine with strong musicality and technical skills, at the beginning of a stunning day of success for the World junior champion; her score of 258.7933 was enough for a clear victory by more than 9.4383.

“The schedule is tight, but it’s an honour to participate in so many events,” said Xu. “I’m competing at home and the audience was so excited so I was a little nervous and I wanted to perform better, but I made progress in my physical ability.”

Silver medallist Tio Casas told World Aquatics she was “quite happy” with her performance and hopes to continue improving ahead of Singapore 2025.

“I feel good because it was the first competition today,” she said. “Physically, I’m in great shape, my legs feel strong. I did nice elements, and also my swimming went well. I’ll also be competing in the duet and team events, so I’ll stay mentally focused to maintain consistency.”

Men's Solo Technical – Villalobos Carrillo, Guo And Tomblin Take The Honours

Given the run of success for the home nation across the other disciplines on the opening day of the 2025 Super Final there was more than a little pressure on China’s Guo Muye to continue that run in what was the third event of the day.

The 17-year-old claimed six medals, including three golds, at last year’s World Junior Championships after making an impressive debut to his World Cup career at the Beijing leg of the 2024 campaign.

There he had placed second in the Solo Tech and first in Mixed Duet Tech final, before claiming three golds in four solo events during this campaign.

A score of 224.0400 for his ‘wizard’ themed routine was marginally short of the gold medal-winning total he attained in the event in Somabay earlier in the year, but still enough to put him top of the rankings at that stage of the competition.

It had edged him ahead of European champion Ranjuo Tomblin of Great Britain, who is enjoying the best season of his career and put himself into contention for a further honour with a total of 220.8334 following his ‘Classical Meets Contemporary’ display.

The penultimate athlete to plunge into the pool was Diego Villalobos Carrillo of Mexico who had never attained a World Cup win, following a smattering of previous silver and bronze medals.

One of the performances of his life followed, with a score of 225.0841 helping him land that maiden major victory in the sport, an achievement he stated he was “very proud” of.

“It is a very new routine, which is special for me and I have prepared it for six months. My next plan is the World Championships, and hopefully I can win a medal there.”

Guo admitted “nerves” impacted his performance, but hopes to improve in the Free final over the weekend.

“There were several areas that fell short of expectations, particularly in artistic expression and the first compulsory element,” he told World Aquatics. “I felt quite nervous—the pressure was greater here at the Final, especially competing on home soil.”

Great Britain’s Tomblin admitted he was experiencing a little fatigue after travelling to China soon after the European Championships concluded in Funchal, Madeira, but that he felt “okay” about the result in Xi’an.

“I really like the venue - it’s a really nice pool,” Tomblin told World Aquatics. “We just came back from Europeans a couple of days ago before flying out here, so the schedule is tight.

“I’ve been building it throughout the season, competing at the World Cups and I’ve been gaining experience so hopefully it will turn out well for the World Championships.”