Dhabitah To Curb Jitters In Bid To Secure Olympic Spot

National diver Nur Dhabitah Sabri training at the National Aquatic Centre in preparation for the Asian Cup starting on Friday. - IBRAHIM MOHTAR/ The STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: Teenager Nur Dhabitah Sabri is hoping to keep her nerves in check as she bids to secure an early Olympic ticket in the Asian Diving Cup, which begins at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil on Friday.

The Cup is a continental qualifier for next year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics but only the four individual winners – men and women’s 3m springboard and 10m platform – will make the cut.

China have already secured their full quota of eight spots (two for each individual event) at the World Aquatics Championships in Russia in July, but they are still taking the Cup seriously.

The Chinese were the first of the foreign teams to arrive on Tuesday and diligently went through a training session in the morning.

With Cheong Jun Hoong just coming back from a heel injury, Malaysia’s hopes lie on Dhabitah in the women’s 3m springboard.

“I am using the same difficulties that I used at the worlds,” said Dhabitah.

“The pressure is on me to deliver. It’s not going to be easy as the Chinese are here. It’s important for me to stay calm and not make any mistakes,” said Dhabitah.

The 16-year-old admitted nerves got the better of her at the worlds where she failed to make the top-12 final.

Dhabitah finished 14th in the semi-finals to miss the cut for the Olympics. Compatriot Wendy Ng Yan Yee qualified for the Rio Games after reaching the final. Yan Yee eventually finished eighth.

“I came so close to making it to Rio. I was just two spots away. The coach (Yang Zhuliang) said I performed to my level, but I was still disappointed,” said the Kuala Lumpur-born Dhabitah, who partnered Pandelela Rinong to win the bronze in the 10m platform synchro at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games last year.

Dhabitah and Jun Hoong main rivals will be China’s Wu Chunting and Liu Tian.

Chunting won the gold at the Mexico leg of the Diving Grand Prix in April while Liu Tian grabbed silver at the World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea, in July.

Besides China and Malaysia, the other countries participating are South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Macau and Qatar.

Malaysian Divers Face China Hurdle In Asian Cup Meet

Chinese diver He Zi who won silver in the 3m springboard event at the World Championships in Russia in June. - AFP

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia have their work cut out for them in their bid to win extra Olympic spots in the Asian Diving Cup, which begins at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil on Friday.

Giants China are sending their second stringers here, spearheaded by He Zi, who claimed silvers in the women’s 1m and 3m springboard at the World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia, in June.

And national coach Yang Zhuliang has conceded they’re no pushovers.

Only the four individual winners – men and women’s 3m springboard and 10m platform – will make the cut for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next year.

“China have already earned their full quota of eight spots (two for each individual event) from the world meet in Kazan, but they are still taking the Asian Cup seriously.

“China have sent their juniors with some of them making their debuts. They have also entered 13-year-old Zi Shiyue, who is the national champion for the women’s 10m platform. She is an exciting prospect, having beaten Olympic champion Chen Ruolin.

“Despite sending their second stringers, China are still the favourites in all the events,” added Zhuliang.

To date, Malaysia have earned two individual slots for the Olympics through Pandelela Rinong and Wendy Ng at the World Championships. 

Pandelela won a bronze in the 10m platform while Wendy earned her spot after finishing eighth in the 3m springboard.

“It will be great if we can get one or two more divers to qualify. Our focus here is on the four individual events, and not the synchro,” said the coach.

With Pandelela given a break, Nur Dhabitah Sabri and Loh Zhiayi will compete in the women’s 10m platform.

Cheong Jun Hoong, who skipped the world meet to recover from her heel injuries, will return to take part in the women’s 3m springboard with Dhabitah.

Ooi Tze Liang and Ahmad Amsyar will focus on the men’s 3m springboard. Tze Liang will also compete in the men’s 10m platform with Chew Yiwei.

The other nations competing here include Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Malaysia’s Next Gen Divers Sweep The Board In Taiwan

Wendy Ng, one of the national divers who took part in the Taiwan Diving Invitational in Taipei over the weekend. - Filepic

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s next generation of Olympic hopefuls impressed with a 10-gold sweep at the Taiwan Diving Invitational in Taipei over the weekend.

And following their good performances, four juniors – Muhammad Syahmi Mohd Rezal, Hanis Nazirul Jaya Surya, Muhd Syafiq Puteh and Jellson Jabilin – are set to get a piece of the action in the Asian Diving Cup at Bukit Jalil from Sept 4-6.

Syafiq impressed with a three-gold feat in Taipei. Besides clinching the men’s 3m springboard individual title, the 20-year-old also partnered Wendy Ng Yan Yee to win the mixed 3m springboard synchro and combined with Nazirul for the men’s 3m springboard synchro crown.  

Wendy also won the women’s 3m springboard title. She is set to feature in the Rio Olympics next year after finishing eighth in the 3m springboard individual at the World Aquatics Championships in Kazan recently.

Jasmine Lai-Kam Ling Kar took the women’s 3m springboard synchro title while the other gold medals came from Syahmi (boys’ platform), Hanis (boys’ 3m springboard), Jellson (boys’ 1m springboard), Ling Kar (women’s 1m springboard) and Traisy Vivien Tukiet (women’s 10m platform),

The Asian Diving Cup is a continental qualifying event for the Olympics, with the respective four individual winners – men and women’s 3m springboard and 10m platform – making the cut for the Olympics.

China have already earned the full quota of eight spots at stake (two for each individual event) from the world meet in Kazan and will not be sending their national divers for the Asian Diving Cup.

“This is the chance for our top divers, like Ooi Tze Liang, Cheong Jun Hoong and Dhabitah Nur Sabri, to try to fight for an Olympic ticket at the Asian Diving Cup,” said Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) secretary Mae Chen.

“We’re likely to expose our juniors like Syahmi, Hanis, Syafiq and Jellson in the Asian Diving Cup. We want them to experience competing in a major event as they are our hopes for the future.” 

Diver Tze Liang Goes Solo In Olympic Push

National diver Ooi Tze Liang (second from left) and artistic gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi with their prize during the incentive presentation for the Singapore SEA Games medal winners at Putrajaya on Wednesday. - MOHD SAHAR MISNI/ The STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: Ooi Tze Liang will only focus on the men’s individual 3m springboard and 10m platform at the Asian Diving Cup in Bukit Jalil from Sept 4-6 to realise his Olympic dream.

Tze Liang led the divers to receive RM159,000 under the National Sports Council’s (NSC) incentive scheme for their total haul of eight golds and three bronzes at the Singapore SEA Games in June.

Tze Liang collected a handsome cheque of RM50,000 for his four-gold sweep in Singapore.

The 20-year-old from Penang won two synchro titles – with Chew Yiwei in the 10m platform and Ahmad Amsyar Azman in the 3m springboard. Tze Liang also retained his 3m springboard individual title and finished off by winning the 10m platform to chalk his best-ever achievement at SEA Games level.

The SEA Games contingent were feted to a reception to celebrate their success in bagging 62 golds, 58 silvers and 66 bronzes at Putrajaya on Wednesday night.

For Tze Liang, he will now focus his attention on the Asian Diving Cup.

“It’s the continental qualification event for the Rio Olympics next year. But I will only focus on the individual events this time as only the individual winners get to qualify for the Games.

“China have already earned the full quota of eight individual spots at the World Aquatics Championships (in Kazan, Russia, early this month), so they’re not sending their divers. In their absence, I hope to take full advantage of earning an Olympic spot,” said Tze Liang.

Tze Liang had a disappointing outing in Kazan. He botched one of his dives in the 10m platform individual preliminaries and could only finish 22nd. Only the top 12 finalists qualify for Rio and Tze Liang rued the missed chance.

“I would have reached the top 18 semi-finals if I did not mess up my landing on the fourth dive.

“But I’m not giving up my dream of making my Olympic debut. I will learn from my mistakes.”

Besides the Asian Cup, Tze Liang can still qualify via the World Cup in Rio next February.

THE PAYOUT 

By Sport: Diving (RM159,000), swimming (RM76,000), synchronised swimming (RM33,500), archery (RM111,000), badminton (RM60,000), basketball (RM60,000), billiards and snooker (RM40,000), bowling (RM127,000), cycling (RM33,000), equestrian (RM24,000), fencing (RM2,000), floorball (RM5,000), artistic gymnastics (RM81,000), rhythmic gymnastics (RM44,500), hockey (RM180,000), judo (RM5,000), netball (RM9,000), pencak silat (RM69,000), petanque (RM39,000), rowing (RM1,000), rugby Sevens (RM9,000), sailing (RM162,000), sepaktakraw (RM43,250), shooting (RM70,000), squash (RM86,000), table tennis (RM6,000), taekwondo (RM12,000), tennis (RM2,000), triathlon (RM3,000), waterski (RM38,500), wushu (RM53,000)

Top individual recipients

1. Ooi Tze Liang (diving) - RM50,000 (four golds)
2. Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh (archery) - RM35,000 (three golds)
3. Rafiq Ismail (bowling) - RM34,666 (three golds, one silver)
4. Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah (waterski) - RM34,000 (two golds, one silver)
5. Farah Ann Abdul Hadi (artistic gymnastics) - RM30,000 (two golds, one silver, three bronzes)
6. Mohd Harrif Saleh (road cycling) - RM30,000 (two golds)

Wendy In For 3m Springboard Final, And Rio Olympics!

Wendy seen from underwater as she makes an entry into the pool after her 3m springboard dive in the World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia. - Reuters

PETALING JAYA: Wendy Ng would probably be bunking together with Pandelela Rinong in Rio next year.

Wendy (inset) has earned an early Olympic ticket after finishing 11th in the women's 3m springboard individual semi-finals at the World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia.

The Kuala Lumpur-born diver finished with 296.10 points to be joint 11th with Ukraine’s Olena Fedorova.

The top 12 divers who have qualified for Saturday’s finals are assured of places in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next year.

Wendy finished 12th in the preliminaries with 294.60 points to reach the top-18 semi-final stage while team-mate Nur Dhabitah Sabri was eliminated.

The 16-year-old Nur Dhabitah missed the cut after finishing 19th with 276.65 points.

Wendy will be making her second appearance at the Olympics. Her efforts came after Pandelela Rinong had bagged a bronze in the women's 10m platform individual event on Thursday.

Pandelela became the first Malaysian athlete to check into next year’s Rio Olympics after finishing eighth in the top-18 field for the women’s 10m platform semi-finals on Wednesday.

Coach Yang Zhuliang was a happy man.

“I thought our chances of winning an Olympic ticket was slim after Cheong Jun Hoong got injured and could not come. But Wendy has proved that she deserves her place in the individual springboard event,” he said.

“She can still do better. Anyway, it's a good attempt from her to qualify for her first World Championships final.”

Ooi Tze Liang and Chew Yiwei will be aiming to earn their Olympic spots when they compete in the men's 10m platform individual, Saturday.

Pandelela Relieved To Make The Cut For Rio Olympics Next Year

Pandelela is the only Malaysian to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics thus far.

PETALING JAYA: To say Pandelela Rinong was happy to receive a ticket to Rio de Janeiro Olympics would be an understatement.

The diver was relieved to become the first Malaysian athlete to qualify for the Rio Olympics next year after finishing eighth in the semi-finals of the women’s 10m platform individual at the World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia, on Thursday.

“I’m just grateful I made it in the individual (event). But it’s not over ... I want to work harder to get ready for the Olympics next year,” said Pandelela, who hopes her achievement will help boost the efforts of her team-mates.

Malaysia failed to qualify early for the synchro events from Kazan and now have to focus on getting the divers to achieve the goal in the individual events in the last two days.

Wendy Ng Yan Yee and Nur Dhabitah Sabri will hope to beat the odds to reach the top-12 final for the first time in the women’s individual 3m springboard on Friday while it will be Ooi Tze Liang and Chew Yiwei’s turn in the men’s 10m platform on Saturday.

Pandelela and Leong Mun Yee finished seventh in the 10m platform synchro in Kazan and failed to book their tickets to the Rio Olympics.

China, Canada and North Korea took the early Olympic spots, leaving Malaysia to wait until the Diving World Cup in Rio de Janeiro next February for another shot at taking one of the four spots still available.

“I’m excited to make it to another Olympics,” said 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Pandelela.

“It’s not easy to qualify through the world meet ... it’s so competitive.

“Now, I just want to enjoy the competition (in Kazan) and do my best in the final.”

The 22-year-old from Sarawak also feels that Malaysian divers will have to be wary of the North Koreans as well as the usual suspects.

The North Korean divers caught the eyes of many after getting their first medal in the history of the world meet on Monday.

The pairing of Kim Un-hyang-Song Nam-hyang claimed bronze in women’s 10m platform synchro. They were also silver medallists at the Incheon Asian Games last year.

On Wednesday, 16-year-old newcomer Kim Kuk-hyang advanced to the women’s 10m platform individual final behind China’s defending champion Si Yajie and Ren Qian.

“They have been strong competitors in Asia for a long time alongside China. Their youngsters are really making an impression here,” said Pandelela.

http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Diving/2015/07/30/Pandelela-more-than-happy-to-earn-Rio-Olympic-spot/

Malaysian Divers Deliver Yet Again In SEA Games (updated)

Golden girls and boy. The Malaysian divers (from left): Leong Mun Yee, Ooi Tze Liang and Traisy Vivien Tukiet pose with their gold medal at the Singapore SEA Games on Sunday. - BERNAMA

SINGAPORE: Leong Mun Yee collected her 15th SEA Games gold medal after she partnered Traisy Vivien Tukiet to win the women's 10m platform synchro at the OCBC Aquatics Centre.

Mun Yee-Traisy finished the five-dive competition with 306.66 points ahead of Singapore’s Myra Lee-Freida Lim (238.59) and Thailand’s Jiratchaya Yothongyos-Surincha Booranapol (222.12) to take Malaysia's golden tally in diving to four.

Earlier, Commonwealth Games champion Ooi Tze Liang posted 473.55 points to retain his 3m springboard individual title. It was the second gold for Tze Liang, who partnered Chew Yiwei to win the 10m platform synchro on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Mun Yee, Malaysia’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony on Friday, and Tze Liang were whisked off after the prize presentation ceremony as head coach Yang Zhuliang refused to talk to the press.

But team manager Mae Chen later brought Traisy out to be interviewed.

Traisy was pleased to defend the 10m platform synchro gold for Malaysia.

Mun Yee partnered Nur Dhabitah Sabri to win the event at the last Games in Myanmar two years ago.

"I was nervous and afraid that I might disappoint my coach. But thankfully, I didn't do anything silly and we got the gold in the end," said Sarawak-born Traisy, who also paid tribute to Mun Yee for her guidance.

"This is my second SEA Games gold. I partnered Mun Yee to win the 10m platform synchro in Indonesia in 2011. She is very calm. I learn a lot from her as she has competed in many SEA Games,” said the 21-year-old Traisy, who competed in the 10m platform individual at the 2012 London Olympics.

Mun Yee made her SEA Games debut in Jakarta in 1997, but she only won her first medal in Brunei two years later by taking the silver behind compatriot Farah Begum Abdullah in the 3m springboard individual.

Mun Yee finally ended her gold drought in the 2001 Games in Kuala Lumpur. She was a revelation with a four-gold performance, winning the 3m springboard individual and synchro and the 10m platform individual and synchro. She defended her 10m platform individual title in Vietnam two years later.

Mun Yee then contributed two golds each in the next four Games in Manila (2005), Thailand (2007), Laos (2009) and Indonesia (2011).

Fu Kang Bags Malaysia’s First Swimming Gold (updated)

National swimmer, 16-year-old Wong Fu Kang after winning the men's 100m breaststroke at the Singapore SEA Games on Sunday. - FAIHAN GHANI/ The STAR

SINGAPORE: Look out behind… teenage swimmer Wong Fu Kang coming through!

The 16-year-old from Johor swam the race of his life to win the men's 100m breaststroke race at OCBC Aquatics Arena – in new national record time.

It’s no wonder he pumped his fists in the air immediately after looking at the scoreboard. He has just come from behind in the race to hand Malaysia their first SEA Games swimming gold medal in Singapore.

Victory seemed unlikely as the kid trailed in fourth place after the first 50 metres. But he cranked it up after the turn to touch the wall in 1:02.46 just ahead of Thailand’s Matjiu Radomyos, who clocked 1:02.63.

His new time eclipsed his own national mark of 1:02.56 set at the Malaysian Open in March. And more importantly, he became the first Malaysian male breaststroker to take gold in 14 years since Elvin Chia.

Interestingly, it was also Fu Kang who erased Elvin's national mark in the same event that had stood for 15 years.

The Phuket-based Fu Kang said he learned from the mistake he made in the 200m breaststroke final the previous night.

He led at the half-way mark but ran out of steam and finished fifth.

"I went too fast last night. I learnt my lesson and I was saving up my energy for the last 50 metres.

"I knew everyone were feeling the fatigue and I just did my best to beat them. I was so happy when I looked up and saw my name on top alongside the Malaysian flag,” said Fu Kang, who has a chance to claim a double when he swims the 50m breaststroke event on Thursday.

Malaysia also won a silver medal - in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay via Lim Ching Hwang, Daniel Bego, Welson Sim and Kevin Yeap, who finished in 7:30.13. Singapore, anchored by Incheon Asian Games gold medallist Joseph Schooling, proved too fast and won easily in 7:18.14.

United States-based Christina Loh will bid to defend her 100m breaststroke title on Monday night.

RESULTS

Men 

100m freestyle: 1. Joseph Schooling (Mas) 48.58 new Games rec, 2. Quah Zheng Wen (Sin) 49.91, 3. Hoang Quy Phuoc (Vie) 50.60. Selected: 7. Alwyn Tan (Mas) 51.81.

100m breaststroke: 1. Wong Fu Kang (Mas) 1:02.46, 2. Matjiur Radomyos (Tha) 1:02.63, 3. Joshua Hall (Phi) 1:02.87. Selected: 8. Shaun Yap (Mas) 1:04.97.

4x200m freestyle: 1. Singapore 7:18.14 new Games rec, 2. Malaysia 7:30.13, 3. Indonesia 7:35.63.

Women 

50m butterfly: 1. Tao Li (Sin) 26.58 new Games rec, 2. Quah Ting Wen (Sin) 27.02, 3. Jasmine Alkhaldi (Phi) 27.47.

200m backstroke: 1. Nguyen Thi Anh Vien (Vie) 2:14.12 new Games rec, 2. Yosaputra Yessy Venesia (Ina) 2:17.17, 3. Roxanne Ashley (Phi) 2:18.45.

200m individual medley: 1. Nguyen Thi Anh Vien (Vie) 2:13.53 new Games rec, 2. Pawapotako Phiangkhwan (Tha) 2:18.56, 3. Samantha Yeo (Sin) 2:18.77.

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.