No splashing start from Pandelela and Nur Dhabitah in Japan

PETALING JAYA: It was an unimpressive start for national divers Pandelela Rinong and Nur Dhabitah Sabri as they only managed to finish fourth in the women’s 10m platform synchro event in the first leg of the FINA Diving World Series in Sagamihara, Japan.

The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallists only had a total score of 302.64 points, which was a far cry from the points won by China’s new pair Lu Wei-Zhang Jiaqi. They impressed with a total of 340.44 yesterday.

South Korea’s Kim A-rim-Kim Mi-rae came in second with 319.50 points while Canada’s Meaghan Benfeito-Caeli McKay secured third spot with 311.70.

The 19-year-old Dhabitah was named as the replacement for 10m platform world champion Cheong Jun Hoong, who is still recovering from a knee surgery she underwent in August last year.

It’s a tall order for Dhabitah to take Jun Hoong’s place as the latter had also partnered Pandelela for the silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

But the duo will need to buck up as they will also partner each other for the second leg in Beijing, China, from March 7-9.

It was also a similar story in the women’s 3m synchro springboard event as the pair of Kimberly Bong-Dhabitah only managed to finish seventh with a total score of 266.50 points.

China took first place again with Shi Tingmao-Wang Han posting a resounding total of 330.00 points. Canadians Jennifer Abel-Melissa Citrini Beaulieu were second with only 302.97 points, no where close to thewinning pair.

Australians Maddison KeeneyAnabelle Smith finished third with 301.83 points.