Divers out to make the most of their final events

Total focus: Mohd Syafiq Puteh in action during the 1m springboard event. — Reuters

NATIONAL diver Mohd Syafiq Puteh will be hoping to make a bigger splash at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after missing out on delivering a medal for Malaysia in the men’s 1m springboard event yesterday.

The 30-year-old finished his first event in Japan in sixth place with a score of 232.25 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre as China’s Wang Zongyuan defended his gold medal comfortably with 442.75.

South Korea’s Kim Yeong-nam took silver with 373.30, while Liu Chengzan’s 361.46 made it a double medal haul for China with bronze.

Syafiq, who is competing at his third Asiad, will compete in his final event in the 3m springboard today as he aims to improve on his sixth-place finish in Hangzhou 2022.

Meanwhile, compatriot Yong Rui Jie will also aim to do better after ending his campaign in 14th out of 15 divers with 197.75.

The 20-year-old, who delivered a surprise bronze with teammate Nurqayyum Nazmi Mohd Nazim in the men’s 3m springboard synchronised event on Saturday, will be out to do well in the individual event today.

In the women’s 1m springboard event, Ong Ker Ying, who finished in sixth with 208.85, will compete in the 3m springboard today.

Ker Ying and partner Lee Yiat Qing earned bronze for Malaysia in the women’s 3m springboard synchronised event on Sunday.

RESULTS

Men

1m springboard individual: 1. Wang Zongyuan (Chn) 442.75, 2. Kim Yeong-nam (Kor) 373.30, 3. Liu Chengzan (Chn) 361.45. Selected: 6. Mohd Syafiq Puteh (Mas) 323.25, 14. Yong Rui Jie (Mas) 197.75.

Women

1m springboard individual: 1. Lin Shan (Chn) 263.05, 2. Long Yiping (Chn) 254.25, 3. Kim Su-ji (Kor) 245.05. Selected: 6. Ong Ker Ying (Mas) 208.85.