Pandelela’s possible Asiad farewell ends without medal

IT WAS the second barren day for Malaysia in diving as veteran Pandelela Rinong (pic) missed out on the podium in her pet event at the Asian Games.

The two-time Olympic medallist finished a disappointing sixth among 11 competitors in the women’s 10m platform final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

The 33-year-old diver scored 289.15 points to mark a sad end to what could be her final appearance at the Asiad.

China’s Chen Yuxi, the two-time world champion in this event, splashed to the gold medal with 432.65 points while compatriot Lu Wei took silver with 385.40s.

North Korean Jo Jin-mi earned the bronze with 363.80 points.

Pandelela took bronze in the event at the last Asiad in Hangzhou three years ago but she was not in medal contention from the start.

The Sarawakian scored 58.50, 59.45, 57.60, 52.80 and 60.80, which were just not enough to put her within fighting range of the podium winners.

Pandelela’s best achievement in the Asian Games was winning a silver in the 10m synchronised platform event with Datuk Leong Mun Yee at the 2010 edition in Guangzhou edition.

She has won a total of four Asiad bronzes.

Her junior Nur Eilisha Rania Abrar Raj finished last out of 11 divers after registering 216.60 points.

Mohd Syafiq Puteh placed sixth in the men’s individual 3m springboard final (357.30) while Yong Rui Jie finished last (337.80).

Elvis Priestly Clement and Paris Olympian Bertrand Rhodict will compete in the men’s 10m platform while Ong Ker Ying and Lee Yiat Qing will dive in the women’s 3m springboard on the final day of competition today.

However, Malaysian team technical director Yeoh Ken Nee is not harbouring high hopes of getting an individual medal.

“Based on the individual strength, our divers are not there yet,” he admitted.

“Most of our divers, with the exception of Pandelela and Syafiq, are making their first Asian Games appearance.

“They lack the experience and their degree of difficulty is not at that level yet.

“We had the better chance to win medals in the synchro events on the first two days and they got the job done,” he said.