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.”