British diver Tom Daley gave the Youth Olympics a boost when he announced yesterday he will participate despite injuring a tricep at the European Championships.

Daley, who became the youngest diver at 15 to win a world title in men's platform this year, withdrew from the Europeans last weekend and said he might not participate in the inaugural Youth Games. But Daley said yesterday he would compete in the 3-metre springboard tomorrow.

"It's been a lot better. I've got quite a good range of movement so I'd say I'm like 75 per cent," the 16-year-old Daley said. "I have to compromise some of my diving technique to make sure my arm doesn't go into overstretch."

Daley, however, did withdraw from the 10-metre platform as a precaution. He is probably the best known athlete at the games.

"When I first injured it, I was at about 20 percent fitness," Daley said. "I couldn't even get in the water and dive or straighten my arm."

Meanwhile, Haiti made it to the boys' football semi-finals, coming from a goal down to beat Vanuatu 2-1.

Haiti, which was severely damaged by an earthquake in January that left an estimated 300,000 people dead, looked like it might make an early exit from the tournament after losing its opening game 9-0 to Bolivia. Its semifinal opponent will be Singapore, which beat Macedonia 3-2.

"It's more than a victory," said Fritz Gerald Wong, head of Haiti's delegation. "Any single thing that a Haitian accomplishes is amazing. It finally brings happiness."

Chinese athletes collected three swimming golds to help extend their lead to 18 golds and 28 medals overall. Russia is second with 12 golds and 26 overall while South Korea has six golds.

The United States has won only one gold medal along with four silvers and two bronze medals. US disappointment continued when trampoline gymnast Savannah Vinsant, who was second after the qualifying round, fell to fifth in the final after landing on a safety pad at the end of her routine.

In tennis, Russia's Daria Gavrilova won the gold in the girls' singles final, defeating Saisai Zheng of China two sets to one.

Sammut last in heat

Young Maltese swimmer Mark Sammut was in action yesterday in the Youth Olympics being held in Singapore. He finished in sixth place among six swimmers in Heat 1 of the Youth men 200 -metre backstroke.

Sammut clocked a time of 2.16.85 minutes.

The race was won by Polish Matuesz Wysoczynski, who swam the distance in 2.04.80.