DHABITAH POISED FOR COMMONWEALTH STAGE
Qualifies for 3m springboard individual final in Australian GP
FABIAN PETER fabian.mark@nstp.com.my ranked Commonwealth diver in the semi-finals of the Australian Diving Grand Prix in Gold Coast.
After five dives, Dhabitah garnered 308.40 points to finish second, ahead of American Maria Coburn (262.75) in the first semifinals group.
China's Huang Xiaohui finished first in the semi-finals, held at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre (2018 Commonwealth Games venue) on 313.35 points.
Malaysia’s second diver Jasmine Lai missed out on reaching the final after finishing sixth on 206.45.
Dhabitah should secure her place in next year’s Games, after teammate Wendy Ng failed a doping test at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games (KL2017) in August.
“The Australian Diving GP is important for all of us as we want to gauge our chances ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
“This is also the same venue for the Games next year.
“I never stopped training after the Sea Games because I wanted to prepare for the Malaysian GP (last month) and the Australian GP, so I am happy with my performance,” said Dhabitah, who will also dive in the mixed 3m springboard synchro with Gabriel Gilbert Daim today.
Malaysia are not represented in the men’s 10m platform individual final as youngster Jellson Jabillin finished fourth in the first semi-final group on 322.35 points.