Pandelela sees Jiaqi as future world champion

PANDELELA Rinong fears China has just unearthed a future world champion in Zhang Jiaqi after finishing second to the youngster at the Fina Diving Grand Prix in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Only 13 years old, Jiaqi is already a China National Games champion when she beat Olympic medalists this year, and announced her arrival on the international stage with a commanding win in the women’s 10m platform at the National Aquatics Centre.

China’s ability in producing a stream of diving talent is unmatched anywhere else and Pandelela, 24, is not surprised by the performance of Jiaqi, who was so far ahead that she needed just one point from her final dive to be sure of gold.

“I am happy to win a medal in my first Grand Prix this year but to lose to a 13-year-old is no shame because she is obviously a top diver and a future superstar,” said Pandelela, who scored 332.40 points to finish a distant second to Jiaqi (407.70).

“There are a lot of things I could even learn from her while the Koreans too could be a threat at the Asian Games next year.”

Hampered by injuries recently, two-time Olympic medallist Pandelela is pleased with her performance in the final after struggling in the preliminary and semifinal rounds.

“I feel I made progress from the preliminary rounds and I am most satisfied with my second and third dives because it was better than my attempts in the morning,” said Pandelela, who will also compete in the platform synchronised event with Leong Mun Yee on Sunday.

“I am more confident since the Sea Games as I am trying to improve the technique of my dives. My injury is also manageable and I am slowly progressing to peak for next year.

“There are many important competitions next year such as the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games which are my main goals. Both competitions are equally tough and important.”

Jiaqi was modest about her achievement and no plans beyond next year’s Asian Games in Indonesia.

“I am happy to have won here and did not expect to be so far ahead,” she said through a translator.

Ooi Tze Liang and Ahmad Amsyar Azman finished fifth and sixth respectively in the men’s 3m springboard final which was won by South Korean Woo Haram ahead of China’s Liu Chengming and Peng Jianfeng.

1 Woo Ha-ram (Kor) 479.35pts, 2 Liu Chengming (Chn) 460.15, 3 Peng Jianfeng (Chn) 454.75 ... 5 Ooi Tze Liang (Mas) 407.70, 6 Ahmad Amsyar Azman (Mas) 372.00.

1 Zhang Jiaqi (Chn) 409.85pts, 2 Pandelela Rinong (Mas) 332.40, 3 Kim Su-ji (Kor) 293.10. Devinder Singh