BEIJING, 16 April - The Spanish duet of Gemma Mengual (ESP) and Andrea Fuentes (ESP) lead the Duet competition of the Olympic Games Synchronised Swimming Qualification Tournament 2008 after a superior Technical routine at the National Aquatics Center on Wednesday.

Mengual (ESP) and Fuentes (ESP) executed their routine well, asserting themselves as medal favourites and starting their Olympic qualification campaign with an impressive score of 48.667.

The Spanish routine, performed to traditional Russian music, showcased the precision and synchronisation of the duet that was unable to be matched by Japan's Saho Harada and Emiko Suzuki who finished in second position with 47.917.

Mengual, who usually swims with partner Paola Tirados (ESP), showed no effects of the shoulder injury she was seen icing heavily after the afternoon practice session on Tuesday.

Harada and Suzuki performed a dynamic routine highlighted by strong boosts and impressive leg extensions, but will need to better their execution in the Duet Free routine on Friday, 18 April if they intend to challenge for the gold medal.

Chinese twins Jiang Tingting and Jiang Wenwen began their dynamic routine with an elegant pose on the platform, but were penalised 1.000 for exceeding the time limit allowed in this position. Competitors are allowed no more than ten seconds on the platform before they enter the water.

The Chinese duet, who finished in third position with a score of 47.750, would have finished ahead of Japan had they not received the penalty and are hoping to improve on this score in the Duet Free.

Canadian's Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon and Isabelle Rampling continue to improve, finishing in fourth place (47.250) and leaving them within reach of a medal.

Italian's Beatrice Adelizzi and Giulia Lapi (46.667) and Greece's Evanthia Makrygianni and Despoina Solomou (46.000) finished in fifth and sixth respectively after minor errors in their routines.

Israel's Anastasia Gloushkov and Inna Yoffe had a fast paced rock and roll inspired routine, moving through the pool with black painted fingernails as they strummed guitars and performed the required elements. However their score of 43.583 left them out of the top eight in 13th place.

Medals will be awarded following the Duet Free routines on Friday, 19 April, with fifty percent of the Technical and Free routines combining to determine the final rankings in the Duet competition and Olympic qualification.

The results of the Duet competition on Friday will determine which teams will be required to swim a second Free routine on Sunday, April 20 to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in August.