GWANGJU, South Korea, July 13 -- Chinese mixed pair Shi Haoyu and Zhang Yayi qualified for the finals in artistic swimming on the second day of the 18th FINA World Championships here on Saturday.

Shi and Zhang finished fifth in the mixed duet technical preliminaries, advancing to the finals scheduled for Sunday.

A total of nine pairs competed at the mixed duets.

The Chinese duo performed under the theme of "The Dragon" at Yeomju Gymnasium in Gwangju, around 330 km south of South Korea's capital Seoul.

Shi and Zhang scored 85.2740 points, 6.3138 behind the frontrunners, Russian pair of Aleksandr Maltsev and Mayya Gurbanberdieva. Giorgio Minisini/Manila Flamini of Italy and Atsushi Abe/Yumi Adachi of Japan came in second and third each.

"Although it is the second time in the worlds, it was a bit nervous," said the 17-year-old Shi who noted that the most important of all would be to find the best styles with his teammate.

Zhang, 22, said she felt nervous over participating in the world championships, but she noted that their performance was the best the duo can do together.

【体坛英语资讯：Chinas mixed pair qualifies for finals in artistic swimming of FINA worlds】相关文章：

★ 体坛英语资讯：Figure skating pairs eager for first Olympic gold

★ 体坛英语资讯：James throws up more bricks, Celtics win 89-73

★ 体坛英语资讯：Seattle guard Durant named Rookie of the Year

★ 体坛英语资讯：CFA Chief: China willing to host 2018 World Cup

★ 娱乐英语资讯： 24 City screened for a city reborn

★ 体坛英语资讯：Alonso crashes out of Japanese GP

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Lindsay Lohan briefly falls off sobriety wagon

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Britney Spears told to pay most of K-Feds fees

★ 体坛英语资讯：Federer reaches first final of 2008 in clay event

★ 体坛英语资讯：McClaren: Successor will benefit from my flop