GLASGOW: Malaysian divers Pandelela Rinong and Ooi Tze Liang impressed in the preliminary rounds of the women’s 10m platform and men’s 3m springboard respectively to put Malaysia in contention for medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
On Thursday, defending champion Pandelela rolled out consistently good dives to finish joint first with Canada’s Roseline Filion with an identical score of 348.80 points at the Royal Commonwealth Pool.
They will be joined by 10 others in the final, including two Malaysians – Cheong Jun Hoong and Loh Zhiayi.
Jun Hoong also gave a good account of herself to finish fourth with 304.45 points while 16-year-old Zhiayi just scraped through in 12th spot with 259.25 points.
The Malaysian women were expected to make the final. So, no surprises there.
But it was a pleasant surprise to see the men making heads turn.
On Thursday, Tze Liang stayed hot on the heels of reigning Commonwealth Games 1m springboard gold medallist Jack Laugher throughout the five rounds before finishing second with 416.15 points.
Laugher took top spot with 465.80 points.
Tze Liang will have compatriots Ahmad Amsyar Azman and Chew Yiwei for company in the final.
Team manager Edwin Chong said that he had expected three women divers to make the final but expressed surprise with the men’s performances.
“This is the first time we have all three men in the final of this event. This is a good result,” said Edwin.
“Tze Liang put up a commendable performance … we hope he can maintain it.”
On Malaysia’s medal chances in both events, Edwin said: “I’m not good at making predictions but I hope our divers will put up a good show.”
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