Wendy books early Olympic spot after reaching final in Gwangju

Impressive feat: Wendy Ng Yan Yee in action during the women’s 3m springboard semi-finals at the World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, yesterday. — AP

PETALING JAYA: National diver Wendy Ng Yan Yee can start packing her bags to Tokyo.

The 26-year-old has qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games after she reached the women’s 3m springboard final at the World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, yesterday.

Wendy amassed 288.60 points from five dives to finish 10th in the semi-finals.

The top-12 finishers in the semi-final field of 18 divers move into the final, which takes place tonight.

The 12 finalists are assured of slots in the Olympics in August next year.

It will be the third straight Olympic appearance for Wendy, who joins Pandelela Rinong as both made the cut from the individual events.

Wendy reached the semi-finals after finishing 12th (279.30) in the preliminaries earlier in the day.

Nur Dhabitah Sabri, who took bronze in the Diving World Series final leg in London two months ago, surprisingly missed the cut for the semi-finals after finishing 25th (249.05).

With the Olympic tattoo etched on her ankles, Wendy does not need reminding on how much securing an early slot to Tokyo means to her.

Wendy only started diving again in May after a nine-month lay-off to recover from a shoulder operation.

“I had to spend a lot of time rebuilding my dive moves in training leading up to this world championships,” said Wendy.

“I feel relieved to reach this stage after struggling with my body conditions and pain.

“This will be my third time qualifying for the Olympics but it is the hardest route I’ve taken.

“I want to thank everyone who continues to support me through the hard times.

“I really need to thank God and also my coaches (Li Rui and Christian Brooker).

“The pressure’s off and I will just jump my normal routines tomorrow,” said Wendy, who just missed the cut for the final when she finished 13th in the event at the last world meet in Budapest, Hungary, two years ago.

Youth Olympic diver Jellson Jabillin will be hoping to spring a surprise when he jumps in the preliminary round of the men’s 10m platform individual today.

The Malaysian diving team wrap up their campaign with Muhd Syafiq Puteh partnering Dhabitah for the mixed 3m springboard synchro event tomorrow.