PANDELELA OVER THE MOON

Diver credits coach after winning historic gold with partner Jun Hoong

PANDELELA Rinong thanked coach Zhang Yukun for their historic feat at the Montreal leg of the Diving World Series on Friday.

Pandelela-Cheong Jun Hoong captured Malaysia’s first-ever World Series gold medal by winning the women’s 10m platform synchro discipline.

“Thank you Zhang Yukun for helping us in improving our confidence,” said Pandelela on her Instagram account.

It now seems that Yukun is a capable replacement for Yang Zhuliang, who is well known for bringing up a generation of world class Malaysian divers.

Zhuliang left Malaysia last year under a dark cloud after his contract was not renewed by the National Sports Institute following some controversial incidents.

In Montreal, Pandelela-Jun Hoong posted a 322.74 total to finish ahead of North Korea’s silver medallists Kim Mi Rae-Kim Kuk Hyang (321.90) and China’s Si Yajie-Lin Shan (320.82).

Although China did not field their best pair, credit should still go to the Malaysians for their impressive performance.

“Hello Montreal, we have won our first World Series title,” Pandelela added.

The Malaysians finished second and third in the opening legs in Beijing and Fuji. China’s Zhang Minjie-Zhang Jiaqi won the first two legs.

The success will spur Commonwealth Games champions Pandelela and Jun Hoong for the next leg in Kazan.

The diving in the World Series is more prestigious than the Commonwealth Games as it featured world class divers from China and North Korea.