Jellson bounces back from costly mistake to claim gold

A MISTAKE in one of the dives nearly put paid to Sabah diver Jellson Jabillin’s hope for the gold medal.

But the 17-year-old Bukit Jalilbased diver, who has experienced highs and lows in the boys’ platform individual, rebounded to secure high marks in the remaining two dives to secure the gold at the Tuanku Zara Aquatic Centre yesterday.

Jellson had too many rotations on his fourth dive – a back three and a half somersault – and hit the water flat on his stomach, only registering 16.50.

But he put the pain and the glaring blunder aside to com me back strongly in the remainin ng two dives, scoring 76.80 and d 78.40 respectively.

And Jellson’s total of 347.00 7.00 points was enough to secure the gold for Sabah.

Sarawak’s Enrique Maccartney Anak Harold had the chance to seize the lead but he also faltered on his fourth dive to finish second with a 329.90 total points while Muhd Syahmi Mohd Rezal got the bronze for Selangor with 291.1029 points.

Jellson, who is headed to next month’s Youth Olympics ini Buenos Aires, Argentina, haad mixed feelings on his performance.f

“I was not satisfied with the scores. I lost the feeling on the fourth dive. Maybe it’s because I was feeling nervous as I only learnt this dive in March. I made a mistake once in training also.

“But my coach here (Christian Brooker) calmed me down and asked me to re-focus.

“I’m happy I can get things back on track. It’s still a good outing for me to get two golds here as I only won two silvers at the last Sukma,” said Jellson, who partnered Gabriel Gilbert Daim to win the boys’ 3m springboard synchro event on Wednesday.

Federal Territories pairing Loh Zhiayi-Ong Ker Ying dethroned Selangor’s Adeline Chin-Koh Hui Yan in the girls’ 3m springboard synchro final. Zhiayi-Ker Ying amassed 257.13 at the end of the five-dive contest to beat AdelineHui Yan, who finished with 247.68 points, to the gold medal.