Huang and Bryan make encouraging start in London
PETALING JAYA: Naturalised Malaysian Huang Qiang made an immediate impact in his first competition in six years on the first day of the FINA Diving World Cup in London yesterday.
The China-born diving star partnered Bryan Nickson Lomas to finish an impressive fifth in the men’s synchro 3m springboard preliminaries at the Olympics Aquatic Centre.
The newly–formed pairing secured 402.09 points after five dives to not just comfortably secure a place in the top-12 final but their performance also raised hopes of securing the allimportant quota spot for the country at the London Olympics in July.
Ahead of the Malaysians are Americans Troy Dumais-kristian Ipsen (411.90), Germans Patrick Hausding-stephen Feck 411.96 and Canadians Alexandre Despatie-rueben Ross (419.56) while China’s reigning world champions Qin Kai-luo Yutong showed commanding form to lead the 20-nation field on 445.49.
The 30-year-old Huang Qiang was picked ahead of Yeoh Ken Nee in a bid to help Malaysia qualify for the synchro discipline for the first time in Olympic history.
Huang Qiang got married three years ago but it was only last year that he became a Malaysian citizen.
In his prime, Huang Qiang formed an unbeatable partnership with Tian Liang and the China pair were then the hot favourites at the 2000 Sydney Olympics before injury forced him to turn to coaching.
There is a realistic chance at the moment but it is not going to be easy as only four spots are up for grabs in the last qualifying meet for diving at the Olympics.
China, Russia and Mexico have already secured the first three tickets by virtue of finishing on the podium at the World Championships in Shanghai last year while hosts England get an automatic spot for the eight-pair competition regardless of how they fare.
Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia secretary Edwin Chong said it is still a very tough fight as all countries are eyeing the four remaining spots.
“Huang Qiang did well considering he has not dived in an international competition for so long. Wehave a shot at making it to the Olympics but they have to raise their game a bit for the final as everyone starts afresh.
“They have a chance to become the first Malaysian synchro pairing to qualify for the Olympics if we can get into the top four in the final,” said Edwin.
Commonwealth Games reigning champion Pandelela Rinong and Traisy Vivien were down to compete in the women’s individual 10m platform yesterday.
Pandelela has already secured a quota in the final after finishing fifth in the world meet last year and Traisy can join her if she reaches the top-18 semi-finals in London.