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Mexico diving team's Chinese coach doing very good job-- official

Xinhua, June 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

The president of the Mexican Swimming Federation (FMN), Kiril Todorov, praised the Chinese-born coach of the country's diving team for doing a "very good job."

Coach Ma Jin has helped take the country's leading competitive diver to the top of her game, Todorov said during the International Swimming Federation's (FINA) sixth and final Diving World Series, held May 29 and 31 in Mexico's southeastern city of Merida.

"Ma Jin has done a very good job in training the best, Paola Espinosa, one of the top divers of all time in Mexico, the 2009 world champion and two-time Olympic medal winner," said Todorov.

Mexico's diving team won two gold medals, three silver and a bronze at the Merida event, thanks largely to Ma Jin, who in 2012 received the highest honor Mexico awards foreigners in the country, the Order of the Aztec Eagle.

In recent years, the Mexican government in conjunction with the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (Conade) has made a concerted effort to raise the level of competitive diving in Mexico, according to Todorov.

"We're building a diving school," said Todorov, adding it would be great to get China's support in the endeavor, "since China's diving school is without a doubt of the highest level worldwide."

There's a lack of solid sports exchange and cooperation between the two countries in both swimming and other sports, said the official.

"China is potentially a partner of great interest for Mexico, because it stands out in almost all Olympic specialties," he added.

In addition, Todorov said he was impressed by the warmth of the Chinese people during a visit to cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing and Guangzhou.

"We have a lot in common and we have many other areas in which we can complement each other as countries, in my opinion it's very positive," he said.

"Mexico and China are very good friends in the sports field and we always welcome having Chinese specialists in Mexico," he added.

As part of an agreement signed in 2003 between Conade and China's General Sports Administration, several teams of Chinese coaches have helped train Mexican athletes in diving, swimming, shooting, gymnastics and other specialties.

According to Conade, some 25 Chinese coaches or trainers currently work in Mexico, including Zhang Zheng and Chen Xian, in archery and weightlifting, respectively. Their students have gone on to do well in regional and international competitions. Endi