Despite a poor start plus one bad dive, Chinese rookie Huang Xiaohui used her perfect last dive to claim her first major individual title at the women's 10m platform of FINA Diving World Cup on Friday.

Chinese Liu Huixia took the silver.

Huang, winner of the mixed team event with Chen Aisen on the first day, led the field through preliminary and semifinals and overcame a bad start and a poor 307C (reverse 3.5 somersault) with her strong 407C (inward 3.5 somersault) in the final to lift the title in 373.60. Her 407C collected a day-high 91.20 with two full marks.

Women's 10m platform synchro champion Liu suffered from a big splash in her fourth dive 207C (Back 3.5 somersault) in 37.95 and had to concede to a silver medal in 354.35. Melissa Wu of Australia finished third in 349.50 and Tonia Couch of Britain fourth 330.90.

"As a World Cup debutant, I am happy with my first major individual title. However, my performance was not stable and had some flaws. That made me unhappy," said the 17-year-old Huang.

"307C is a difficult dive for women. I could not manage it very well during training. So I am not surprised with a big blow on it, " Huang said.

Liu blamed her poor 207C for her finishing second. "My 207C dragged me all through the preliminary, semifinals and final. It is my weakest dive which I need to work on it. Besides, I am synchro diver who pays more attention to the synchro and my partner. So it is a different feeling to compete in the individual event," said the 17-year-old Liu who clinched the synchro gold together with Olympic and world champion Chen Ruolin.

Melissa Wu said the bronze medal would boost her confidence in the coming Commonwealth Games. "I am happy with a medal at the World Cup thanks to my consistent performance in the final. It is not my best dive but it is good enough for me to prepare the Commonwealth Games," said Wu with a smile.

In the men's 3m springboard semifinals, China's platform expert Cao Yuan set the pace into final with 524.10, followed by Jack Laugher of Britain on 507.00 and world champion He Chong of China on 504.00. Hausding Patrick of Germany was the fourth qualifier with 493.05.

The men's 3m springboard will take place on Saturday.