Stay in sync: Chew Yiwei (right) and Ooi Tze Liang in action during the 3m springboard synchro event in the World Championships. — Reuters
PETALING JAYA: Divers Chew Yiwei-Ooi Tze Liang saved the best for last to qualify for the men’s 3m springboard synchro event final in the World Championships.
In the preliminary round in Budapest, Hungary, which had attracted the best from the world, the duo scored 337.23 points to finish 11th out of the 16 pairs in the event yesterday.
The first two jumps saw them getting 47.40 and 43.80 points, but they gained momentum in the third dive with a score of 69.75.
But the fourth jump nearly proved to be their downfall when they only scored 39.60 points, which saw them move out of the top 12 reckoning.
However, they bounced back in the last two dives by notching 65.28 and were most impressive in the final dive when they deservedly earned 71.40 points.
China’s reigning Olympic Games gold medallists Cao Yuan-Wang Zongyuan finished top with 446.07 points to sound a warning that they are the favourites for the gold.
Britain’s Jack Laugher-Anthony Harding were second with 413.13 points.
Harding is Laugher’s new teammate since the start of the year. Laugher used to partner Chris Mear and both won the Rio 2016 Olympics gold medal for the event.
France’s Alexis Jandard and Jules Bouyer finished third with 387.37 points.
Yiwei-Tze Liang, who are competing in their third world meet together, are among the more experienced divers in the mix.
They have made the finals twice in the 2017 and 2019 editions, finishing 10th and 12th respectively.
