Double Delight From Divers In Singapore (updated)

SINGAPORE: Diving delivers again.

Cheong Jun Hoong retained her SEA Games women's 3m springboard individual diving gold medal at OCBC Aquatics Centre on the opening day of the competition on Saturday. She totalled 349.65 points for Malaysia's second gold medal at the Sinagpore SEA Games.

And moments later Ooi Tze Liang-Chew Yiwei got the second gold of the day for Malaysia in the 10m synchro platform. Indonesia's Andriyan Andriyan-Putra Adityo Restu won the silver while Thailand's Siriboon Theerapat-Juntaphadawon Yotsaw picked up the bronze. 

Wendy Ng Yan Yee made it a 1-2 for Malaysia in the 3m springboard with a silver. She posted 309.20 points.

The Wait Is Over For Yiwei At SEA Games

Malaysian divers Chew Yiwei (left) and Ooi Tze Liang after winning the 10m synchro platform event at the Singapore SEA Games on Saturday. - IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/ The STAR

SINGAPORE: That’s a weight off his shoulders.

Chew Yiwei’s finally got his hands on the SEA Games gold medal after winning the men's 10m platform synchro title with Ooi Tze Liang at the OCBC Aquatics Centre on Saturday.

And during the prize presentation, Yiwei kissed his gold medal immediately after it was placed on his neck.

Yiwei-Tze Liang finished the six-dive competition with 404.37 points to complete a double at the pool for Malaysia. Cheong Jun Hoong had successfully defended her women's 3m springboard individual title earlier.

Indonesia's Andriyan Andriyan-Putra Adiyto Restu took silver with 355.11 points as Thailand's Siriboon Theerapat-Juntaphadawon Yotsaw settled for the bronze with 316.77.

The 19-year-old Yiwei was delighted to stand on the top-step of the podium after taking bronze in his first SEA Games appearance in Myanmar two years ago.

“That bronze came from the 3m springboard individual .... my only event in Myanmar. I didn't train for the platform events then. It was worth the wait and I feel good now,” said the Klang-born Yiwei, who partnered Tze Liang to a bronze in 10m platform synchro at the Incheon Asian Games last September.

“I have to put my celebrations on hold for now ... I have the 10m platform competition coming up on Monday.

“We were not consistent today compared to our performance in the Asian Games but it's good enough for this level.”

Malaysia’s chase for diving gold continues on Sunday with Tze Liang and Mohd Syafiq Puteh competing in the men's 3m springboard individual and Leong Mun Yee-Traisy Vivien Tukiet taking part in the women's 10m platform synchro.

Three Cheers For Jun Hoong At SEA Games

National divers, Cheong Jun Hoong (right) and Wendy Ng with their gold and silver medal after completing the women's 3m springboard individual event at the Singapore SEA Games on Saturday. - BERNAMA

SINGAPORE: One was delighted. The other was frustrated.

That aptly describes the feelings of divers Cheong Jun Hoong and Wendy Ng Yan Yee.

Jun Hoong romped to a third successive SEA Games gold medal in the women’s 3m springboard individual at the OCBC Aquatics Centre on Saturday – at the expense of team-mate Wendy for the third consecutive Games.

Jun Hoong led from start to finish to secure the first diving gold for Malaysia. The 25-year-old had built up a 30-point lead heading into the last dive and she finished with a flourish to seal gold with 349.65 points.

Wendy has only herself to blame for not executing the second dive well. Her 309.20 total was only good for a silver.

Singapore’s Fong Kay Yian pipped Indonesia’s Eka Purnama Indah with her final dive to take bronze with 258.90 points.

Jun Hoong was relieved after succeeding in her bid to extend her winning streak in the 3m springboard individual.

She had finished ahead of Wendy in the same event at the last two SEA Games – in Palembang (2011) and Myanmar (2013).

“The coach was counting on us ... there was a bit of pressure. I had to execute every dive well. I knew Wendy would be my strongest rival but I wasn’t focusing on her. I was only thinking of my own dives,” said Perak-born Jun Hoong, a bronze medallist in the same event at the Incheon Asian Games last September.

Having won gold in the only event she’s competing in, Jun Hoong was quick to thank her coach Yang Zhuliang, her family and friends for their support.

“This gold medal would not have been possible without the help from the coaches,” she said.

Wendy tried to put on a brave face after claiming her third silver in as many Games.

“It’s another silver ...,” she lamented.

“I didn’t have a clean entry in the second dive ... I knew then that I had lost my chance. But it’s okay. I have to get over it and look to the 3m springboard synchro with Nur Dhabitah (Sabri) on Monday.”

Defending Champ Cai Lin Pulls Out Of 800m freestyle

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

Filepic of national swimmer Khoo Cai Lin.

SINGAPORE: Malaysia suffered a blow to their hopes of a gold medal start in swimming after Khoo Cai Lin pulled out from the women's 800m freestyle final scheduled for Saturday night. 

Cai Lin cited tonsillitis as the reason. She is the defending gold medallist in the event won in Myanmar two years ago. 

She swam the 400m individual medley in the morning but did not finish.  

"I have been having tonsillitis before arriving here and have not recovered yet. 

"I used the 400 individual medley as a test to see how I was feeling but I could not breathe half-way through my event. Too bad this happened now," said Cai Lin.

She is slated for another event - the 400m freestyle on Wednesday. 

SEA Games: Sorry Start For Malaysia In Swimming

Welson Sim of Malaysia (right) with the 200m freestyle bronze medal at the Singapore SEA Games on Saturday. Quah Zheng Wen of Singapore (left) won silver and Vietnam's Hoang Quy Phuoc, the gold. - BERNAMA

SINGAPORE: A bronze from youngster Welson Sim was all Malaysia could manage on the first day of the swimming competition at OCBC Aquatics Centre.

Khoo Cai Lin dealt an early blow to Malaysia’s hopes of a gold-medal start when she pulled out from the women's 800m freestyle final.

Cai Lin cited tonsillitis as the reason for not defending the 800m freestyle title she won in Myanmar two years ago.

She swam the 400m individual medley heat in the morning, but did not finish the race.

“I’ve been having tonsillitis even before arriving here and I’ve not recovered from it. I used the 400m individual medley as a test to see how I was feeling, but I could not breathe halfway through the race ... too bad this happened now," said Cai Lin, who is unable to take antibiotics as she has to race the 400m freestyle on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old Selangor swimmer, however, faces an uphill task of regaining the 400m gold medal she last won in Laos in 2009 as Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Anh Vien was in sublime form on Saturday.

The Vietnamese teenager splashed to two SEA Games records on her way to winning the 400m individual medley and 800m freestyle races.

But it was good to see Welson putting up a noteworthy performance in snatching bronze.

The 18-year-old from Sarawak clocked 1:50.73 in the men’s 200m freestyle to finish behind Singapore’s Quah Zheng Wen, who took silver in 1:49.17.

Vietnam’s Hoang Quy Phuoc smashed Malaysian Daniel Bego’s SEA Games record of 1:49.22, set in 2009, on his way to retaining the 200m freestyle gold in 1:48.96.

“I’m happy with my effort as this is my first time qualifying for the 200m freestyle final at the SEA Games,” said Welson, the MSSM Sportsboy for 2014.

“I’m also the youngest finalist tonight. I will not think too much about this as I have more events to come.”