FINA Diving World Series Beijing stop to kick off Friday

FINA Diving World Series 2012 Beijing stop will kick off on Friday at the National Aquatics Center.

The Diving World Series features four stops, namely Dubai, Beijing, Moscow and Tijuana.

Diving powerhouse China swept all the eight gold medals on offer at the two-day Dubai stop last weekend and now the "dream team" are training in the "water cube" to get well-prepared.

As most of the world best divers will compete in Beijing, including Mexico's Paula Espinosa, Britain's Thomas Daley, Canada's Alexandre Despatie, and so on, the absence of Aussie Matthew Mitcham will be a regret.

Mitcham was the only non-Chinese athlete to win a diving gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games when he won the men's 10m platform.

Without Mitcham, Chinese world champion Qiu Bo and Huo Liang will have a better chance to defend his title in the platform, however, he has to meet the challenge from Daley and German Patrick Hausding, as well as strong young divers from Russia and Ukraine.

Except the men's individual platform, it won't be too difficult for the host to dominate the other seven events.

Olympic and world champion He Chong has been unbeatable in the men's springboard in recent competitions, while the only rival for veteran Wu Minxia in the women's springboard will be her teammate He Zi.

In the women's 10m platform, Olympic and world champion Chen Ruolin and her teammate Hu Yadan also have absolute advantages.

Friday will see the men's 3m springboard and 10m platform synchronized finals, as well as the women's 10m platform and 3m springboard synchronized finals.