Running out of steam
Exhausted Pandelela-Jun Hoong settle for fourth in 10m platform synchro
PETA L I NG
JAYA: The reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallists Pandelela Rinong-Cheong Jun Hoong lost their perfect podium streak when they finished fourth in the women’s 10m platform synchro event at the FINA Diving World Cup in Wuhan, China.
The Malaysian pair earned 76.80 for the final dive yesterday but their total of 319.38 points was not enough for a podium finish.
Pandelela-Jun Hoong were pipped to the bronze by Canadians Meaghan BenfeitoCaeli McKay, who earned a massive 79.68 for their final attempt to snatch the bronze with 324.42 points.
China’s Zhang Jiaqi-Zhang Minjie produced an exceptional performance to clinch gold with 366.12 points as North Korea’s Kim Mi-hwa-Kim Kwang-hui settled for silver with 328.98 points.
Pandelela-Jun Hoong were the silver medallists in the 2016 edition in Rio de Janeiro and the team had high hopes of earning a second medal in Wuhan.
Pandelela bagged the first-ever individual medal – a bronze – in the 10m platform individual on Wednesday.
Pandelela-Jun Hoong also finished on the podium in all four legs of the Diving World Series this year.
The duo started with a silver medal in the opening leg in Beijing, China, and followed up with a bronze in Fuji, Japan, in March.
Pandelela-Jun Hoong then made a golden splash in the third leg in Montreal, Canada, before finishing with a bronze in Kazan, Russia, in April.
The Malaysian pair had earlier concluded the preliminary round in 10th spot with 258.18 points.
“They are much better in the final but they are not at their best level as we have just finished training in Guangzhou before coming here,” said acting head coach Zhang Yukun.
“We’ll rest and then prepare for the Asian Games in Indonesia (in August).”
Ooi Tze Liang did not made the cut for the men’s 3m springboard individual final.
He finished 16th in the semi-finals with 354.90 points with only the top 12 going through.