BELGRADE, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Athens Olympic champion Lao Lishi of China finished out of podium on women's 10m platform at the 25th Universiade on Monday.

    She opted for an easy opening dive with a difficulty degree of 1.9 only and ended in fourth on 321.45 points, 33.00 behind gold medallist Paola Milagros Espinosa of Mexico.

    Lao's compatriot Chen Ni clinched the silver with 339.25 points, beating third-placed Ukrainian Julia Prokopchuk by 1.20.

    Espinosa finished fourth in Beijing Games last year and also grabbed a bronze in the synchronized event.

    Lao had earned a silver on 10m platform and a gold in the synchronized event with Li Ting in Athens but, due to a shoulder injury, she failed to qualify for the Chinese Beijing Olympic team last year.

    The 21-year-old came back to diving pool in a national youth championship in April in a bid to prepare for the National Games in October.

    "In preliminary, Lao failed in 207C of 3.3 difficulty degree," said Chinese coach Zhang Ting.

    "She is far from her best form as in Athens."

    "She didn't train well and felt very difficult to try the movement for a second time. So she replaced it with an easy dive for safety reasons."

Special Report:  25th Universiade Belgrade 2009