(Beijing, April 16) The "Good Luck Beijing" 2008 Olympic Games Synchronized Swimming Qualification Tournament opened at the National Aquatics Center on April 16, with Spaniards Andrea Fuentes/Gemma Mengual leading the duet technical routine with 97.334 points, ahead of Japanese duo Harada Saho/Suzuki Emiko and China's Jiang Tingting/Jiang Wenwen.

The Olympic synchronized swimming competition consists of two events, team and duet, with the participation of 8 teams in the team event and 24 pairs of swimmers in the duet event. After the five continental champions and the host team have qualified for the Games, the remaining three tickets will go to the top three teams of this tournament. In addition, a few tickets for the duet event will also be districted this time.

All together 32 pairs competed in today's technical routine as the Spanish duo, runners-up at the 2007 World Championships, scored two 48.667 points in both technical merit and artistic impression for the top spot.

"We have several different routines and we have yet to decide which one to perform in Beijing in August," said the Spaniards after today's competition.

Harada Saho/Suzuki Emiko performed to the music of Shino Butou by Liszt and Others. For their excellent technical skills, good expression and synchronization they were awarded a high score of 95.833 (47.833 technically and 48.000 artistically) for the second place.

As host China has already got the tickets for both team and duet in the Beijing Olympics. Twin sisters Jiang Tingting and Jiang Wenwen are competing in the tournament mainly to strive for virtuosity in the performance created for the 2008 Games. Today, the Chinese twins performed to the music of Sebre Dance by Aram Llitch Khatchauturian, earning a total of 95.500 for the third place. In 2007, the twins brought China's synchronized swimming into a new high level with their fourth place at the World Championships in Melbourne.

The duet free routine is slated for April 18.