Sisterly synchronicity

Twin sisters Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi from Shenzhen, Guangdong province, claimed gold at the opening meet of the FINA Synchronized Swimming World Series in Paris on Sunday.

The pair scored 92.5667 points to win the duet free competition.

Anastasiya Savchuk and Yelyzaveta Yakhno from Ukraine were second, 0.9667 points behind. Bronze went to Inui Yukiko and Nakamaki Kanami from Japan (91.3000).

Chinese pair Liu Jinhan and Liu Jintong finished sixth in the 29-strong field.

Russia won five of the 10 golds up for grabs. Svetlana Kolesnishenko, who in 2017 was named FINA’s top female synchronized swimmer, collected 95.5000 points to win the solo free.

Yelyzaveta Yakhno and Inui Yukiko finished second and third respectively.

In duet mixed free final, Aleksandr Maltsev and Mayya Gurbanberdieva edged Italian pair Manila Flamini and Giorgio Minisini, who were crowned duet mixed technical champions a day earlier.

The Japanese duo of Abe Atsushi and Adachi Yumi were third, with promising Chinese teenagers Zhang Yiyao and Shi Haoyu last of the five teams.

Ukraine followed Russia with three golds after adding another title in the highlights routine with 91.6667 points to fend off France and Israel.

The second meet of the FINA Synchronized Swimming World Series will run from April 20-22 in Beijing.