Runaway winners
Pandelela-Mun Yee collect final gold for Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Pandelela Rinong and Leong Mun Yee were easy winners of the women’s 10m platform synchro gold on the final day of the Diving Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur.
The Malaysians posted a 311.28 total in the five dives at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday to finish 30.60 points clear of second-placed Emily Boyd-Nikita Hains. The Australians managed 280.68 points.
Kim Suji-Cho Eunbi of South Korea took the bronze with a 275.10 total while Britain’s Emily Martin and Eden Cheng were fourth with 238.50 points. Only four teams took part following China’s pull-out due to an injury to one of their divers.
“It would have been more exciting and challenging if China had competed in the event. But the Australians and South Koreans gave us a strong challenge,” said the 23-year-old Pandelela, who won the 10m platform individual silver on Friday.
Pandelela, a two-time Olympic medallist, attributed their win to Mun Yee’s fine performances.
“Mun Yee is an experienced diver.
“You can count on her giving her best in every competition. The gold today is a real morale booster for us in next month’s Grand Prix in Gold Coast (Australia from Nov 9-12),” said Pandelela.
For 32-year-old Mun Yee, it was the first time she partnered Pandelela since the Diving World Series last year.
“We only trained together two weeks ago. But I am happy that I managed to make some decent dives to win the gold,” said fourtime Olympian Mun Yee.
Malaysia also won a silver in the 3m springboard mixed synchro yesterday. Gabriel Gilbert and Nur Dhabitah Sabri amassed a 272.19 total.
Malaysia ended the three-day championships with two golds, four silvers and one bronze to finish third overall.
On Saturday, world champion Cheong Jun Hoong and Jellson Jabilin delivered the first gold for Malaysia in the 10m platform mixed synchro.
South Korea emerged overall champions with a 3-3-3 haul with China second on 3-2-1.