Hopes of clean sweep take a dive

Third best: Yong Rui Jie in action in the men’s 1m springboard individiual final. — Bernama

BANGKOK: Malaysia will not manage a clean sweep of the SEA Games diving golds for the first time in eight years - the first gold medal went to Singapore.

Malaysia’s 19-year-old Yong Rui Jie had to settle for bronze in the men’s 1m springboard individual event at the Assumption University Aquatic Centre yesterday.

He amassed 354.55 points to finish behind Thailand’s Chawanwat Juntaphadawon, who took the silver on 357.80 points. Avvir Tham, 21, became the first Singapore men’s diver to win a SEA Games diving gold in 60 years after scoring 370.35.

Junior World Championships bronze medallist diver Mohd Nurqayyum Nazmi Mohd Nazim only managed to finish fifth on 311.35 points, underscoring the Malaysian diving team’s lack of depth after years of domination.

The last time Malaysia did not achieve a clean sweep of diving golds was back in Kuala Lumpur 2017 when Wendy Ng Yan Yee-Nur Dhabitah Sabri had to surrender the women’s 3m springboard synchro gold medal to Singapore after Wendy failed a doping test.

Still, Rui Jie deserved credit for finishing on the podium when he only knew two days before the competition that he would be taking part in the men’s 1m springboard event. He had to replace the original selection Mohd Syafiq Puteh.

“The 1m metre is not my strongest event so I am proud of my performance,” he said,

“I did not expect anything as I was only told two days before that I was competing,” said Rui Jie, whose parents were in Bangkok.

“Even if I didn’t win this medal today, I know they would still be proud.”

On Singapore’s dominance, he said: “It’s a bit bitter. But I tried my best for the country.”

However, Rui Jie is determined to do restore Malaysia’s pride when he returns to action tomorrow in the men’s 3m springboard synchro alongside Nurqayyum.

“We will do our best to get the gold medal,” he said.

Men’s 1m springboard final: 1. Avvir Tham (Sin) 370.35, 2. Chawanwat Juntaphadawon (Tha) 357.80, 3. Yong Rui Jie (Mas) 354.55. Selected: 5. Mohd Nurqayyum Nazmi Mohd Nazim (Mas) 311.35.