Bryan Earns Malaysia Another Spot In 2012 London Olympics

KUALA LUMPUR: Bryan Nickson Lomas was down in the dumps after failing to retain his sterling record of always reaching the 10m platform individual final, and thus missing out on qualification for the Olympics, at the World Championships in Shang­hai two months ago.

But the Sarawakian was grinning from ear to ear yesterday after earning Malaysia’s fourth Olympic spot in his pet discipline on the final day of the FINA Diving Asian Cup at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil.

It is also the 21-year-old’s second personal Olympic berth, having achieved his first in the 3m springboard individual at the world meet.

Bryan effortlessly won the gold medal in the absence of the Chinese back-up divers as he led from start-to-finish to post 480.50 points ahead of compatriot Ooi Tze Liang (450.80). Indonesia’s Mohd Nasrullah (396.20) took the bronze.

Graceful plunge: Malaysia’s Bryan Nickson Lomas performing his routine during the men’s 10m platform final at the FINA Diving Asian Cup yesterday. — GLENN GUAN / The Star

Seasoned campaigners Yeoh Ken Nee and Pandelela Rinong are the other Malaysian Olympic qualifiers in diving in the individual men’s 3m springboard and women’s 10m platform respectively.

Bryan was delighted that he got his act right to realise a third straight appearance at the Olym­pics in London next year.

“I felt relaxed after my coach informed me that China’s divers had withdrawn before the competition began.

“It would have been more difficult with them around as only the winner goes through as the continental champion,” he said.

Now that he is more mature and experienced, the former world junior champion is hoping to fight for a medal after uninspiring performances at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olym­pics.

“I do not want to just make up the numbers this time. My goal is to fight for a medal but, to do that, I’ll need to attempt greater difficulty levels and also improve on my entries,” said Bryan, who shone against a world-class field to bag bronze medals at the Asian and Commonwealth Games last year.

“A diver needs to collect more than 500 points to have a chance of fighting for a medal at the Olympics.

“I have not scored that high before but I hope to work towards that for the Olympics next year,” added Bryan.

His next target is to qualify for the 3m springboard synchronised event with Ken Nee in next February’s World Cup in London, which will be the final Olympic qualifying meet.

China, represented by their second stringers, emerged overall winners of the Asian Cup with a haul of seven gold and five silver medals, followed by Malaysia (3-5-4). Indonesia and Singapore took home two bronze medals each.

Results

Men

10m platform: 1. Bryan Nickson Lomas (Mas) 480.50, 2. Ooi Tze Liang (Mas) 450.80, 3. Mohd Nasrullah (Ina) 396.20.

Women

3m springboard: 1. Zhang Jun (Chn) 338.15, 2. Jia Dongjin (Chn) 336.30, 3. Cheong Jun Hoong (Mas) 310.45.