AMONG the 1,235 athletes at this inaugural Asian Youth Games (AYG), there are several who are set to grow into the stars of tomorrow.

ZHANG YANQUAN ... more

Like China's shot put champion Li Jun, sixth in the world youth rankings. And Japan's table tennis player Koki Niwa, who is third in the world Under-15 rankings.

But, if there is one who will almost certainly make it to the top of his sport, it is Chinese diver Zhang Yanquan.

He won the AYG 10m boys' platform title earlier this week.

The 15-year-old Fina Grand Prix champion is already a member of China's national team and their 2012 London Olympics preparation squad.

An impressive feat, after China's AYG diving coach Li Fan gave The Straits Times an insight into the country's grooming system.

For every 10,000 aspiring divers, only one will make it to the senior squad, he estimated.

China's vast talent pool - a population of 1.3 billion - is just one reason for the country's sporting dominance.

Since the 1992 Olympics, they have bagged 24 of 32 gold medals in diving - including a near-sweep in Beijing last year, when they took seven of eight golds.

Another key reason: The Chinese start diving when they are as young as six years old, with coaches constantly looking out for kids with suitable physique who display good technique and mental strength.

Li said: 'Often, coaches will also poach gymnasts, who start as early as three. But, when they turn five, they will be talent-spotted to make the switch.'

The pick of the bunch will be invited to join training in sports schools, where they divide their time between diving and studies.

As they rise through the ranks, a handful will make it to their provincial teams - comprising amateur and professional squads.

Those in the professional squad will train full time, with the exception of three half-day classes each week.

Then it is up to them to impress during national competitions and selection trials if they want to attend centralised training with the national squad.

Even then, they are not certain to represent China in major events like the Olympics - reserved for the elite tier of the national team.

Which is why Yanquan performs over 100 dives a day. He said: 'Success depends a lot on hard work.'

His compatriot Wu Dongliang, the AYG's first gold medallist, is aiming to follow in his footsteps.

'To be able to make the Shanghai pro team is already an achievement,' said the Hubei native, who left for Shanghai to train when he was eight.

'But I want to take the next step up. If I relax for just one bit, there's no chance of that happening.'

The 16-year-old added that one mistake is all it takes to be overlooked.

'There are so many divers in China - it is probably harder to win the national championship than an international event.'

linxinyi@sph.com.sg