Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding won Great Britain's first medal of the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Japan with a silver in the men's 3m synchronised diving competition.
The pair posted a total of 424.62 in Fukuoka to finish as runners-up to China - whose duo of Long Daoyi and Wang Zongyuan stormed to the gold with 456.33 - for the second year running.
Laugher and Harding were noticeably down on their 2022 score of 451.71, although both men have been bedevilled by injuries in recent months and still comfortably saw off French bronze medallists Jules Bouyer and Alexis Jandard (389.10).
The Britons cemented second place from their opening dive and were only 8.61 points behind the Chinese pair after their penultimate routine, which scored a competition-high 83.22.
However, Laugher and Harding were exactly six marks down on their final attempt, allowing China to extend their lead with a stunning sixth dive, achieving 9.5s on execution and synchronisation to score 100.32.
Nevertheless, Laugher and Harding - who also claimed Commonwealth Games gold last year - have now confirmed a spot for the Paris 2024 Olympics and have seven months to recuperate for the 2024 World Championships in Doha.
Ben Knapton
