Diver Jun Hoong misses out on a surprise bronze after finishing fourth

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PETALING JAYA: Malaysian woman diver Cheong Jun Hoong just missed out on nicking a surprise medal for Malaysia in the 1m springboard event on the opening day of the World University Games (Universiade) diving competitions at Shenzhen Notatorium yesterday.

The 20-year-old pulled off the unexpected by making it to the top-eight final by topping her semi-final heat with 268.35 points.

In the final held in the evening, Jun Hoong gave her best shot to deliver the first medal for the Malaysian contingent as she stayed inside the top three after the first two attempts.

So close: A poor third dive proved costly for Cheong Jun Hoong’s medal hopes during the 1m springboard final yesterday.

However, she slipped to fifth after only scoring 42.55 with her third dive.

Jun Hoong eventually settled for fourth with a total of 281.35 points, just slightly behind China’s Chen Ye who claimed bronze with 283.30 points.

American diver Bryant Kelci snatched the silver with 304.00 points as Shi Tingmao, the world champion in the 1m springboard at the recent World Championships in Shanghai, claimed the gold with 320.65 points.

Jun Hoong had completed the preliminaries with the fourth highest marks of 257.90 points behind Kelci (259.80), Chen Ye (272.45) and Tingmao (317.90).

The American and the Chinese duo were placed in the stronger semi-final heat together with another Malaysian diver Leong Mun Yee, who also made the cut.

But Mun Yee later pulled out on the instructions of the coach, leaving Jun Hoong to fight it out alone.

Jun Hoong, the bronze medallist in the discipline at the Guangzhou Asian Games last year, was happy to put up a good performance.

“I came here not targeting a medal as I knew the standards of competition were almost the same as that of the world championships.

“Most of the divers who competed at the world meet in Shanghai stayed back to train in China as they were also involved in the Universiade.

“I just give my best in the final,” said Jun Hoong, who still have the women’s 3m springboard individual event to look forward to.

London Olympic-bound diver Bryan Nickson Lomas and Fakhrul Izzat will be the Malaysians in action in the men’s 3m springboard individual today with reigning world and Olympic champion He Chong hotly favoured to take the gold.

Fakhrul partnered Ahmad Amsyar to finish 10th (300.03) in the men’s springboard synchro final earlier.

Malaysia are still looking for their first medal after four days of competition with the divers and shooters, who will be starting their campaign tomorrow, seeming to be the best hopes.