PETALING JAYA: Leong Mun Yee and Cheong Jun Hoong showed Malaysian diving is not just all about Pandelela Rinong as they fought their way to a superb silver medal in the women’s 10m platform synchro at the FINA Diving World Cup in Shanghai.
With injured Pandelela watching from the stands, replacement diver Jun Hoong combined with Mun Yee to collect 336.66 points to finish behind champions Chen Roulin-Liu Huixia. The Chinese retained the gold with a 357.66 total.
Canada’s Roseline Filion-Meaghan Benfeito, the silver medallists at last year’s World Championships, settled for the bronze with 335.25 points.
The silver was unexpected after coach Yang Zhuliang pulled Pandelela out of the championships at the last minute to allow her to rest her injured knee. Pandelela is scheduled to compete in next week’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
And it was only Jun Hoong’s second outing in the 10m platform synchro at international level. At the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand, she partnered Pandelela to take the gold in the event.
The silver was Malaysia’s best-ever achievement in the biennial meet. Huang Qiang-Bryan Nickson Lomas earned Malaysia’s first-ever medal when they took the bronze in the men’s 3m springboard synchro in the 2012 edition in London.
Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) secretary Edwin Chong was delighted with Jun Hoong-Mun Yee’s achievement.
“Jun Hoong’s performance is comforting news for us. She can now partner Mun Yee at the Commonwealth Games if Pandelela is not fit in time.
“Jun Hoong only started training for the platform synchro two days ago. Our divers’ degree of difficulties is about the same with all the other teams, so a medal is possible in Glasgow,” said Edwin.
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