Diver Ken Nee Realises Dream Of Going To His Second Olympic Games

PETALING JAYA: Diver Yeoh Ken Nee can look forward to a good farewell outing at the London Olympics next year.

The seasoned campaigner realised a dream to make another Olympic appearance after winning the men’s individual 3m springboard event at the FINA Diving Asia Cup at National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil.

He thus joins Bryan Nickson Lomas and Pandelela Rinong as the divers who have qualified early for the London Olympics next year.

Early cheer: Yeoh Ken Nee (left) and Ooi Tze Liang posing with their gold and silver medals Sunday. — MUHD ZULFADHLI / The Star

Back-up divers Pardika Indoma-Ooi Tze Liang also brought more cheers for Malaysia when they surprised the strong field to win the men’s 10m platform synchro competition.

But the attention was on the 3m springboard individual discipline as a place at the London Olympics was up for grabs by virtue of being the continental champion.

All four winners in the individual disciplines (men’s and women’s 3m springboard and 10m platform) will qualify for the Olympics.

Three Chinese back-up divers pulled out at the last minute to hand Ken Nee an easier route and the Malaysian did not waste the opportunity.

Ken Nee completed the six-dive attempts with a total of 456.55 points to finish ahead of fellow Malaysian Tze Liang, who garnered 387.50 for the silver. Singapore’s Timothy Lee got the bronze with 310.10 points.

Ken Nee said he knew the Chinese divers were not competing during the warm-up session at the pool before the start of the competition.

“But I was more concerned with giving a good performance. I was ready to fight with them even if they were taking part.

“I’m happy to go for another Olympics and my scores are also better than what I managed at the World Championships in Shanghai,” said Ken Nee, who missed out on qualification at the world meet in July after failing to even make the top-18 semi-finals.

“I just hope to stay free of injuries until the Olympics. It’s my last competition as I have said earlier I wanted to quit as I’m not getting any younger,” added Ken Nee, whose only outing at the Olympics was way back in Sydney in 2000.

Tze Liang-Pardika won the men’s 10m platform synchro gold medal earlier with a total of 374.34 points.

China’s Wang Anqi-Li Di took the silver with 371.70 points.

Malaysia also got a silver and a bronze in two more finals contested. The silver came from Kam Ling Kar-Jasmine Lai Pui Yee in the women’s 10m platform synchro and the bronze from Cheong Jun Hoong in the women’s 1m springboard, which is not an Olympic event.