Syafiq stays in sync with Tze Liang to clinch gold
KUALA LUMPUR: National back-up diver Muhd Syafiq Puteh showed that there may be a future in his partnership with Ooi Tze Liang to challenge for an Olympic spot in the men’s 3m springboard next year.
Syafiq splashed to victory with Tze Liang in the men’s 3m springboard synchro final at the Malaysia Diving Grand Prix at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
The duo came out on top at the end of the sixdive competition with 368.64 points as Singapore’s Timothy Lee-Mark Lee settled for silver with 350.73 points.
Croatian pair Hrvoje Brecovac-Juraj Melsa got the bronze with 336.06 points.
The 23-year-old Syafiq was relieved to have got his act right after missing out of a chance to get a medal in the 3m springboard individual final on Friday.
Syafiq muffed the fourth dive and had to settle for fifth instead as teammate Tze Liang won the 3m springboard individual title.
“I raised the difficulty level for the last two dives to match Tze Liang’s level.
“I am happy I manage to follow Tze Liang and we did all the dives intact without any big splash of water.
“This is a nice way to end the year as I do not have any competition after this.
“I do not know the plans for next year yet but the World Aquatics Championships in South Korea in July should be the main focus as it is the first Olympic qualifying event.
“I want to work hard in training and hope to be given the chance to dive in the men’s springboard synchro if possible,” said Syafiq, who is from Perak.
Syafiq, who bagged gold at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games with Jasmine Lai in the mixed spring-