It’s a piece of cake
Tze Liang defends 10 platform title despite lack of training
OOI Tze Liang has hardly trained in the 10m platform discipline these days.
Still, the 23-year-old Commonwealth Games champion proved he’s thee one to beat after hee successfully defended his SEA Games gold at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Tze Liang fended off compatriot Chew Yiwei’s threat to come out tops in the six-man competition with 442.65 points.
Yiwei, who led Tze Liang by four points after the third round, flopped his fourth attempt to settle for the silver with 412.75 while Jonathan Chan of Singapore took the bronze with 367.90.
It was Tze Liang’s second gold in as many days, having retained his 3m springboard individual gold on Saturday.
Tze Liang was elated to have earned probably his last victory in the platform discipline.
“Coach (Yang Zhuliang) has asked me to fully concentrate on the springboard after these Games,” said Tze Liang, who used to be a platform specialist in his early days before switching to springboard three years ago.
“I’m really satisfied with today’s win because it could be my last plunge from the platform.
“If my service is needed in the future, I’m always up for it.”
Tze Liang vowed to cap off his campaign in style today by bagging the 1m springboard individual.
The quadruple gold medallist at 2015 Singapore Games will not be defending his 3m springboard and 10m platform synchro titles.
Zhuliang has placed his faith on youngsters Jellson Jabillin-Hanis Nazirul Jaya Surya for platform synchro while Yiwei will partner Ahmad Amsyar Azman for the springboard.
Malaysia have swept all the five golds on offer thus far, including victories by Wendy Ng in the 3m women’s springboard individual, Pandelala Rinong-Gabriel Gilbert Daim (mixed team) and Cheong Jun Hoong (women’s 1m springboard individual).
The diving competition resumes today with three events – women’s 10m platform individual, men’s 1m springboard individual and 3m springboard mixed synchro.