Limited sight has not dampened Ker Ying’s spirit to win at SEA Games

Serious business: Ong Ker Ying in action during the 1m springboard final of the 58th Milo Invitational Age-Group championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Diver Ong Ker Ying has had to cope with an infection on her right eye for the past one week but it has not blurred her vision and goal ahead of the Cambodia SEA Games in May.

The 21-year-old from Kuala Lumpur showed that she is on the right track to shine for Malaysia in the SEA Games after bagging gold in the women’s 1m springboard on the first day of the 58th Milo Invitational Age-Group championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil.

Only two divers entered in the Open category and Ker Ying chalked a five-dive total of 244.40 points to secure the gold.

Singapore’s Deborah Toh settled for silver with 170.10 points.

Ker Ying said she could not train for a week because of an eye infection.

“The infection was caused by wearing contact lens. My eye is better now but it did affect my performance,” said Ker Ying.

“The age-group meet is only my first competition this year and I was hoping to do better but I made a poor execution in the third dive...it affected my score.

“I need to be more stable if I hope to win gold in the women’s 3m springboard at the Games,” she said.

Ker Ying is Malaysia’s best bet in the absence of Olympians Nur Dhabitah Sabri and Wendy Ng Yan Yee.

Wendy won the 3m springboard individual at the last SEA Games in Hanoi last year.

The seniors are skipping the biennial Games to focus on the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan in July and also the Hangzhou Asian Games in September.

Ker Ying, who is coached by China coach Li Junbai, will be competing in the 3m springboard event today.

“This is my main event, which I will be competing in the SEA Games too. Wendy won gold in the 3m springboard and I bagged silver in Hanoi. Now, without her, the pressure is on me to keep the gold medal for Malaysia.

“We have won this event in many SEA Games before this too.

“There is the pressure for me to continue the good run. I just need to stay focused to face challengers from Singapore and Indonesia.

In Hanoi last year, Malaysia diving team swept all eight gold medals at stake but only four golds – all from individual events – are up for grabs in Phnom Penh.

RESULTS

Boys

1m springboard Group A (16-18): 1. Elvis Priestly (Swk) 440.50, 2. Nur Qayyum (Kul) 430.70, 3. Yong Rui Jie (Kul) 419.30.

1m springboard Group B (14-15): 1. Muhd Lutfir Rahman (Swk) 349.95, 2. Choo Jin Wei (Kul) 322.65.

1m springboard Group C (14 and under): 1. Donald Chen (Kul) 278.05, 2. Tyler Lee (Sin) 243.60, 3. Brayden Wong (Swk) 237.30.

Girls

1m springboard Group A: 1. Dayang Nursharyra (Swk) 362.00, 2. Clara Liaw (Sin) 292.20, 3. Celeste Lee Qin (Kul) 285.10.

1m springboard Group B: 1. Nurul Farisya Alia (Swk) 287.10 points, 2. Sophia Tan (Sin) 266.40.

1m springboard Group C: 1. Megan Yow (Sin) 232.10, 2. Ainslee Kwang (Sin) 223.20, 3. Caren Chen (Sin) 213.25.

Men

1m springboard Open: 1. Hanis Nazirul Jayasurya (Kul) 313.40, 2. Julfaddli Jali (Sab) 256.90.

Platform synchro: 1. Enrique Maccartney-Bertrand Rhodict (Swk) 355.29, 2. Jared Aiden Harold-Elvis Priestley (Swk) 302.40, 3. Awang Sharzan Nasrin-Soh Tze Kang (Swk) 263.37.

Women

1m springboard Open: 1. Ong Ker Ying (Kul) 244.40, Deborah Toh (Sin) 170.10.

Platform synchro: 1. Nurul Farisya Alia-Elisha Rania (Swk) 226.20, 2. Dayang Nursharyra-Trisha Ann Voon (Swk) 167.97, 3. Cecelia Olivia-Nur Aryna Balqis (Swk) 155.07.