Sabahan SEA Games diving duo win gold in style
KOTA KINABALU: Gabriel Gilbert Daim and Jellson Jabillin put up an exceptional performance to win gold in diving at the 19th Malaysia Games in Perak, yesterday.
The Sabahan duo scored 377.10 points to set themselves apart in the final of men’s synchronised 3metre springboard, as Selangor and Sarawak drifted in second (307.62) and third (307.50) place for the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Gabriel and Jellson owned the crowd at the Tuanku Zara Aquatic Centre at the MBI Sports Complex in Ipoh. They posted 48.60 to lead from the start and never looked back. They led by more than 17 points after their third dive.
Their confidence grew stronger enabling them to execute dives with greater difficulty including a three-and-a-half somersault pike, which earned them a high of 74.40 in their penultimate attempt.
A two-and-a-half somersault pike with twist earned them only a 72.00 in their final dive but it was enough to wow the crowd and seal their victory.
For Gabriel, it was his second gold medal after a surprise win in the individual event on Monday which helped the team to meet their gold medal target.
And the triumph yesterday effectively put the dive team in the black as they joined the likes of the State karate squad who also exceeded expectations by achieving double in the number of gold medals set for them by the Sabah Sports Council.
There is likely a third gold medal for diving as Jellson competes in the 10metre platform today.
“This is the event that we feel confident of winning gold. We are very happy to already win two gold medals. It will be icing on the cake if Jellson can bag another one for us tomorrow,” said team manager Anjelica Simpul.
Aside from the 10m platform, Sabah divers will also compete in the women’s 3m synchronised springboard.
No target has been set for Nur Ain Nadzmi and Nurfazriyanti Jali but Anjelica hoped they would do well enough to win a medal.
Meanwhile, final events in swimming featured only a handful of Sabahan swimmers. Despite their small numbers Sabah still managed to win silver thanks to Cheng Ka Man, Chu Xin Ying, Loo Yie Bing and Wong Hsiao Thang.
The women’s quartet clocked 4:06.570s to finish six second off the mark behind gold medallists Selangor in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Sarawak bagged the bronze in a time of 4:07.160s.
Xin Ying and Lo Meng Sum also competed in the women’s 800m freestyle but finished fifth and sixth, respectively.
Angela Chieng (Sarawak) won gold, while Goh Chia Tong took the silver for Melaka and Selangor’s Rosalind Pang won the bronze.