PETALING JAYA: Diver Pandelela Rinong is (pic) making the world take notice of her ability with another big breakthrough for Malaysia in the opening leg of the FINA Diving World Series in Moscow.
The 18-year-old Pandelela pulled off a first for Malaysia in the series by bagging the silver in the women’s 10m platform individual event on the first day of competition on Friday.
She chalked up 369.45 points to secure the silver. China’s reigning Olympic champion in the discipline, Chen Ruolin, gave a standout performance to take the gold on 409.95 and Australian Alexandra Croak settled for the bronze on 358.95.
Pandelela together with partner Leong Mun Yee are the only Malaysians to qualify for the prestigious four-leg series this year. The other legs will be held in Beijing (March 25-26), Sheffield (April 15-16) and Mexico (April 22-23).
Only the top 10 ranked divers are invited to compete in the series based on their performances in the world circuit and continental championships last year.
Pandelela said that she competed without any pressure but her hopes soared after finishing on top of her group in the semi-finals.
“The best three divers from the two groups qualify for the final. The Chinese diver emerged first in the other group,” said the Sarawakian in a telephone interview yesterday.
“I’m happy to dive well and break my personal best score in the 10m platform.”
The Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia secretary, Edwin Chong, praised Pandelela for putting Malaysia on the world diving map.
“This is a good quality competition and we are proud of her as she is the first Malaysian diver to make the podium in the Diving World Series,” he said.
Pandelela’s performance certainly augurs well for her chances of a strong showing in the world championships in Shanghai in July.
The world championships will not just be about fighting for medals but also to secure early qualification for the Olympics next year.
The 12 finalists in individual disciplines are assured of places in the London Games and Pandelela is definitely on track to secure qualification, judging from her latest effort.
Pandelela recently beat several high-profile athletes to win the 100Plus Sportswriters Association of Malaysia’s (SAM) 2011 Athlete of the Year award, thanks to her outstanding performances in major competitions last year.
She won two silver medals at the Youth Olympics in Singapore. She went on to become the first-ever Malaysian diver to win a gold in Commonwealth Games history in New Delhi last October.
The following month, Pandelela also stood tall in her Asian Games debut in Guangzhou, winning a silver and a bronze even though she had to deal with a back muscle sprain.
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