Another Day, Another GoldFfor Malaysia In Diving Grand Prix

Malaysian diving pair Cheong Jun Hoong (left) and Nur Dhabitah Sabri in action in the women's 10m platform synchro event at the FINA Diving Grand Prix at Bukit Jalil on Sunday. - M. AZHAR ARIF/ The STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: Looks like Malaysian diving is in sync.

After winning two gold medals on the opening two days of the FINA Diving Grand Prix through untested pairs, national diving head coach Yang Zhuliang put up another scratch pair which yielded yet another gold medal.

This time, it’s Cheong Jun Hoong and Nur Dhabitah Sabri who delivered the goods in the women’s 10m platform synchro at the at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil.

They had replaced first-choice pair Pandelela Rinong-Leong Mun Yee, and rose to the occasion to chalk up 319.74 points over five dives to beat last week’s Singapore Grand Prix winners Wang Han-Wang Ying (283.38) of China and Ukraine’s Tatsenko Vlada-Krasnoshlyk Ganna (273.33).

Jun Hoong-Dhabitah never looked like losing from the moment they took over the lead after the second dive.

In their fourth attempt, the Malaysian duo wowed the fans with a near-perfect execution of an inward 3½ somersault, with a 3.2 degree of difficulty, to earn 80.64 points en route to a commanding 36-point victory.

Earlier in the morning, Jun Hoong-Dhabitah picked up a silver in the 3m springboard synchro.

They amassed 288.75 points to finish behind China’s Xu Zhihuan-Wu Chunting (304.50).

The 16-year-old Dhabitah was not done yet, though.

Barely half an hour after her platform synchro triumph, she was back in action.

This time she partnered Muhd Syafiq Puteh to win another silver in the mixed 3m springboard synchro.

Her three-medal achievement in one day left the 25-year-old Jun Hoong in awe.

“Three podium finishes in just a day ... (Dhabitah) she’s just brilliant. When I was her age, I had achieved nothing,” said Jun Hoong.

On the opening day, Ahmad Amsyar Azman-Chew Yi Wei took part in the men’s 3m springboard synchro after just one training session and bagged the gold.

On Saturday, Chew Yi Wei-Jun Hoong won the mixed 10m platform synchro gold medal after just one practice session as well.

Malaysia ended their campaign with their best-ever haul of three golds and three silvers.

Amsyar had also contributed a silver in the men’s 3m springboard individual.

*Thumbnail Picture from Utusan Malaysia

RESULTS

MEN

10m platform individual: 1. Wang Anqi (Chn) 471.85, 2. Gao Ang (Chn) 451.70, 3. Espen Valheim (Nor) 396.80.
Selected: 4. Chew Yi Wei 392.25.

WOMEN

3m springboard synchro: 1. Xu Zhihuan-Wu Chunting (Chn) 304.50, 2. Cheong Jun Hoong-Nur Dhabitah Sabri (Mas) 288.75, 3. Anastasiia Nedobiga-Viktoriya Kesar (Ukr) 280.95.

10m platform synchro: 1. Cheong Jun Hoong-Nur Dhabitah Sabri (Mas) 319.74, 2. Wang Hang-Wang Ying (Chn) 283.38, 3. Vlada Tatsenko-Ganna Krasnoshlyk (Ukr) 273.33.

MIXED

3m springboard synchro: 1. Wu Chunting-Li Yanan (Chn) 303.00, 2. Muhd Syafiq Puteh-Nur Dhabitah Sabri (Mas) 287.70, 3. Oleg Kolodiy-Anastasiia Nedobiga (Ukr) 287.28.

http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Diving/2015/10/25/Another-day-another-gold-for-Malaysia-in-Diving-Grand-Prix/

Diving GP: Dhabitah Sabri-Cheong Jun Hoong Win Malaysia's 3rd Gold

BUKIT JALIL: Malaysia ended their campaign in the FINA Diving Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur leg with a third gold medal through Cheong Jun Hoong-Nur Dhabitah Sabri in the women’s 10m platform synchro discipline at National Aquatic Centre today.

Jun Hoong-Nur Dhabitah led from the second round onwards for a combined 319.74 total, followed by China’s Wang Han-Wang Ying (283.38) and Ukraine’s Vlada Tatsenko-Ganna Krasnoshlyk (273.33). 

The 16-year-old also won silver medals in the women’s 3m springboard synchro with Jun Hoong and the springboard mixed synchro with Syafiq Puteh.

 “It was a tiring day as I competed in three events. I am glad that I did well and won medals in all disciplines,” said Nur Dhabitah today. 

“Winning the platform synchro gold was a surprise as Jun Hoong and I are only focusing on the springboard in training as we are preparing ourselves for Olympic qualification through the Rio World Cup in February.” 

In the springboard mixed synchro, China’s Wu Chunting-Li Yanan clinched the title on 303.00 ahead of silver medallists Nur Dhabitah-Syafiq (287.70) and Ukraine’s Oleg Kolodiy-Anastasia Nedobiga (287.28). 

China’s Xu Zhihuan-Wu Chunting topped the women’s 3m springboard synchro event with 304.50, followed by Jun Hoong-Nur Dhabitah (288.75) and Ukraine’s Anastasia Nedobiga-Viktoriya Kesar (280.95). 

In the men’s 10m platform final, China finished one-and-two through Wang Anqi (471.85) and Gao Ang (451.70) followed by Norway’s Espen Valheim (396.80) while Chew Yiwei finished fourth on 392.25. 

Malaysia’s other goals were from the men’s springboard synchro (Ahmad Amsyar Azman-Yiwei) and platform mixed synchro (Yiwei-Jun Hoong) events.

Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/10/diving-gp-dhabitah-sabri-cheong-jun-hoong-win-malaysias-3rd-gold

Another First For Malaysia In Diving Grand Prix

The winning mixed diving pair Chew Yiwei (left) and Cheong Jun Hoong from Malaysia at the Malaysian Grand Prix meet on Saturday. - RICKY LAI/ The STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: It’s another first for Malaysia.

Chew Yi Wei and Cheong Jun Hoong had just one training session, but it was enough for them to bag Malaysia’s first-ever win in the 10m mixed synchro event at the FINA Diving Grand Prix at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil.

Teaming up for the first time in an event that Malaysia never planned on competing, Yi Wei-Jun Hoong rode on the back of two superb dives – the third (76.50 points) and fourth (80.64) - for a winning total of 326.82 points.

They finished ahead of China’s Wang Anqi-Wang Ying (298.92) and Australia’s Brittany O’Brien-Nicholas Jeffree (264.42).

On Friday, Yi Wei had won a gold medal in the men’s 3m springboard synchro with Ahmad Amsyar Azman – also after just one training session.

The 20-year-old Yi Wei is becoming something of a mixed synchro specialist, having been used by coach Yang Zhuliang since the introduction of the event (including the mixed 3m springboard synchro) by FINA last December.

Yi Wei had partnered Loh Zhiayi, who is not involved this week as she’s preparing for the SPM examinations, to bag a silver in the same event at the Puerto Rico Grand Prix in April.

He also won a silver with Traisy Vivien Tukiet in last month’s Asian Diving Cup in Bukit Jalil.

No wonder Yi Wei is over the moon.

“It’s definitely a surprise win. We didn’t even know we were competing... ,” said Yi Wei.

Jun Hoong, the 2014 World Cup silver medallist, was just glad to have made amends for her dismal opening-day performance – finishing fifth in the 10m platform individual.

“I’m relieved to have made up for yesterday... I was disappointed with myself,” she said.

Hopes of seeing rising star Nur Dhabitah Sabri adding a medal to Malaysia’s tally in the 3m springboard individual failed to materialise after she could only manage fifth placing with a 282.70 total.

She was on course for a podium finish after the first two rounds, but poor dives in her third and fourth attempts put paid to her chances of winning.

RESULTS

All finals

Men's 10m platform synchro: 1. Wang Anqi-Gao Ang (Chn) 394.86, 2. Adityo Restu Putra-Andriyan Andriyan (Ina) 308.22.

Women's 3m springboard individual: 1. Wu Chunting (Chn) 329.20, 2. Nedobiga Anastasiia (Ukr) 321.25, 3. Xu Zhihuan (Chn) 307.60.
Selected: 5. Nur Dhabitah Sabri (Mas) 282.70.

Mixed 10m platform synchro: 1. Chew Yi Wei-Cheong Jun Hoong (Mas) 326.82, 2. Wang Ying-Wang Anqi (Chn) 298.92, 3. Brittany O’Brien-Nicholas Jefree (Aus) 264.42.

http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Diving/2015/10/24/Another-first-for-Malaysia-in-Diving-Grand-Prix/

Mun Yee And Wendy Latest Divers To Join Crock List

Mun Yee is nursing a right knee injury and is ruled out of the ongoing FINA Diving Grand Prix at Bukit Jalil.

KUALA LUMPUR: National divers Leong Mun Yee and Wendy Ng Yan Yee  are the latest big names to join the crock list.

Head coach Yang Zhuliang has confirmed that both divers will also miss the ongoing FINA Diving Grand Prix in Bukit Jalil.

The national team had earlier lost their top divers Ooi Tze Liang (shin) and Pandelela Rinong (back) to injuries.

Mun Yee is nursing a right knee injury while Wendy has a shoulder problem.

The pair sustained the injuries during the recent 10-day training stint in China.

And team officials are taking no chances, with the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro coming up next year.

“We are monitoring their conditions and we’ll decide if they are fit to travel next week for the Australian GP (in Gold Coast, Nov 29-31),” said Zhuliang.

In the absence of the duo, Zhuliang is expected to field Cheong Jun Hoong and Nur Dhabitah Sabri for Saturday’s women 10m platform synchro and Sunday's 3m springboard synchro.

http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Diving/2015/10/23/More-divers-join-the-crock-list/

Malaysian Divers Capture Surprise Gold At Grand Prix Event

Amsyar (right) and Yi Wei performed a huge 80.58 point final dive to capture the gold medal in the 3m springboard synchro in the FINA Diving Grand Prix. - BRIAN MOH / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Once is enough for Ahmad Amsyar Azman and Chew Yi Wei.

The national divers had only one practice session, but it was enough for them to capture a surprise gold in the 3m springboard synchro event at the FINA Diving Grand Prix at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil on Friday.

What made their feat even more amazing was that Amsyar had only an hour earlier clinched a silver in the 3m springboard individual event.

The 23-year-old Amsyar has certainly blossomed after being in the shadows of such illustrious predecessors like Yeoh Ken Nee and Bryan Nickson Lomas, who have both retired.

And it was left to the Perlis-born Amsyar to lead Malaysia to a superb start at home, with a one gold and one silver haul.

Amsyar picked up a silver in the 3m springboard individual with 436.10 points.

He was third after the fifth and penultimate dive before a superb 81.90 in the last dive saw him overtake Kolodiy Oleg of Ukraine (428.80) for the silver.

Gwangju World University Games double gold medallist Peng Jianfeng of China was in a class of his own – bagging the gold with 476.60.

Then came the golden moment.

Amsyar and Yi Wei looked to be heading for the bronze, but a stunning 80.58-point final dive saw them amass 371.31 points to pip China’s Li Yanan-Zhong Yuming for the gold medal.

Yanan-Yuming (367.50pts) took silver and Poland’s Andrzej Rzeszutek-Kacper Lesiak (354.81) the bronze.

Amsyar-Yi Wei’s victory is Malaysia’s third gold medal in the event in the Grand Prix history. In 2012, naturalised Huang Qiang and Bryan clinched back-to-back titles at the Canadian Open and US Open.

Amsyar can certainly be proud of himself.

The individual silver he won was the best-ever feat by a national male diver on the world stage.

“I have made a total of 24 dives (six each for individual preliminary, semi-finals and final and synchro final) today ... it’s so tiring!,” said Amsyar.

“But it’s been worth it. I’ve never achieved so much before ... and I’ve done it in just one day, today.

“With (the injured Ooi) Tze Liang not around today, I knew I had to step up. My win with Yi Wei in the synchro shows that we have the talent despite the shortage of elite men divers.”

Yi Wei attributed his win with Amsyar to having “the right chemistry”.

“Although we had only a day’s practice, I think Amsyar and I had the right chemistry. The last time we combined was two or three years ago,” he said.

“I’m really delighted to win a gold for Malaysia ... especially in front of our home fans.”

Cheong Jun Hoong, the sole representative in the women’s 10m platform individual following Pandelela Rinong’s eleventh hour injury withdrawal, could only finish fourth with a poor score of 277.40.

RESULTS

(All finals)

MEN

3m springboard individual: 1. Peng Jianfeng (Chn) 476.60, 2. Ahmad Amsyar Azman (Mas) 436.10, 3. Kolodiy Oleg (Ukr) 428.80.

3m springboard synchro: 1. Ahmad Amsyar Azman-Chew Yi Wei (Mas) 371.31, 2. Li Yanan-Zhong Yuming (Chn) 367.50, 3. Andrzej Rzeszutek-Kacper Lesiak (Pol) 354.81.

WOMEN

10m platform individual: 1. Wang Ying (Chn) 382.70, 2. Lois Toulson (Bri) 347.20, 3. Wang Han (Chn) 324.30. Selected: 4. Cheong Jun Hoong (Mas) 277.40.

http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Diving/2015/10/23/A-suprise-gold-at-FINA-Diving-Grand-Prix-Bukit-Jalil/

Pandelela Injures Back Before Diving GP

Nur Dhabitah (left) and Pandelela after an indoor training session early this month. Pandelela will have to sit out the FINA Diving Grand Prix at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil..

KUALA LUMPUR: First, it was Ooi Tze Liang.

Now, star attraction Pandelela Rinong has joined the crock squad on the eve of the FINA Diving Grand Prix, which begins Friday at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil.

Tze Liang had been ruled out on Tuesday with a stress injury on his left shin.

The 22-year-old Pandelela sprained her back during training on Thursday and has been advised by the National Sports Institute (NSI) to skip the three-day meet.

Pandelela, who has not competed since winning a bronze in the World Championships in Kazan in July, was slated to compete in the 10m platform individual event.

Having been rested for the Asian Diving Cup last month, it seems like she’ll have to wait even longer for action as she could also miss out on next week’s final round of the Australian Grand Prix in Gold Coast.

The extent of Pandelela’s injury is not clear although the diver has undergone a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

“I sprained my back this morning and went to seek treatment right away. I was advised by the NSI not to participate this week,” confirmed Pandelela, without elaborating.

She had also suffered a back injury prior to the 2012 London Olympics, where she claimed a bronze for Malaysia’s first-ever medal outside badminton.

Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) secretary Mae Chen said that Pandelela would undergo an ultrasound scan, Friday.

Mae, however, allayed fears over the injury.

“It can’t be serious, otherwise she can’t walk,” explained Mae.

“But we have to rest her to prevent worsening the injury.

“We must ensure that her preparation towards the (Rio de Janeiro) Olympics remains intact. It’s better to address this minor injury now than letting it worsen”

Mae also said that the haze condition will not stop Malaysia from hosting the diving competition for the second time.

“The GP will go on. It’s not a high-intensity sport, so the haze will not affect us that badly,” she said.

This week’s event, the penultimate round of the nine-leg series, has attracted 65 divers from 13 countries.

Malaysia will be represented by women divers Leong Mun Yee, Cheong Jun Hoong, Wendy Ng Yan Yee, Nur Dhabitah Sabri and Jasmine Lai. The men are Chew Yi Wei, Ahmad Amsyar Azman and Muhd Syafiq Puteh.

China will be sending their second stringers, but they are still expected to dominate proceedings after bagging nine golds, three silvers and one bronze at last week’s Singapore Grand Prix. 

http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Diving/2015/10/22/Pandelela-injured-before-Diving-GP/

Former Diving Star Bryan Shines Again… With Distinction

Former national diver Bryan Nickson Lomas is flanked by his mother Nancy Guei and kid sister Felisa Rimba after receiving his scroll at the University Malaya convocation in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. - BERNAMA

PETALING JAYA: Two years ago, three-time Olympic diver Bryan Nickson Lomas walked away from the sport while he was still at the peak of his career.

He wasn’t sure if he had made the right decision.

He needn’t have worried.

For now, the 25-year-old Sarawakian is the proud holder of a Bachelor in Sports Science (Sports Management) Degree from Universiti Malaya.

He graduated on Wednesday with distinction honours after scoring a CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) of 3.8.

And he has his late father – Lomas Pawi – to thank for his achievement.

“My father passed away in 2013 ... and it affected me a lot. He supported me in my diving career, but he also always advised me to get an education,” said Bryan, who became the country’s first world junior diving champion after winning the 3m springboard event in Belem, Brazil, in 2004.

“I always had to defer my varsity studies ... and I knew I would not be able to handle my studies if I continued diving. I’m glad I made the right decision to study full-time.”

Also present to share his joy at the convocation ceremony was his mother Nancy Guei, who flew in from Kuching.

“I’m the second of four children. I’m the first degree holder in my family and I think my father will be proud if he was still with us,” said Bryan.

Bryan was only 14 when he competed in the Athens Olympics in 2004 in the men’s 10m platform individual. He finished 19th – just one spot off the top-18 semi-finalists.

He then went on to win multiple medals at the SEA Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.  

He is also the first Malaysian diver to have reached a World Aquatics Championships final – in Melbourne in 2007.

Bryan also partnered Huang Qiang to win the first-ever Diving World Cup medal – a bronze – in London in 2012. The 3m springboard synchro pairing also triumphed in the Diving Grand Prix legs in Canada and the United States that year.

But Bryan, who was described by head coach Yang Zhuliang as one of the most naturally talented diver he has seen, has ruled out any chance of making a comeback.

“Unlikely to happen ... I’m happy with what I am doing. I’m coaching part-time with the Selangor team and my short-term goal is to open a diving academy ... either in Sarawak or Kuala Lumpur, where I’m staying now,” said Bryan, who also harbours hopes of becoming an entrepreneur.

http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Diving/2015/10/21/Former-diving-star-Bryan-shines-again-with-distinction/