CHINA-BORN Huang Qiang will officially return to competitive diving today when he and Bryan Nickson Lomas compete in the men's 3-metre springboard synchro in pursuit of Olympic qualification on the opening day of the World Cup in London.
Huang Qiang, who received his Malaysian citizenship last July, was picked ahead of Lomas' regular partner Yeoh Ken Nee by coach Yang Zhuliang before the team managers' meeting yesterday.
Only the top four pairs will qualify for the London Olympics and Zhuliang is hoping that Huang-Qiang will clinch one of the quota spots to become the first ever Malaysian synchro combination to feature at the Games.
"I believe we have a brighter chance simply because Huang (Qiang) and I have similar body shape and weight. In world-class events, judges are strict in awarding points as they only look at perfect jumps and entries," said Lomas in London yesterday.
"Huang (Qiang) is my perfect partner. We have been practising very hard in training to get into the right momentum for the World Cup. Our combination is near perfect and I believe we can earn high points.
"I hope my partnership with him will be successful in London. It is different with Ken Nee, as he is taller than me and it is not easy to synchronise our movements."
At his prime, Huang Qiang formed an unbeatable partnership with Tian Liang and the China pair were then the hot favourites at the 2000 Sydney Olympics before injury forced the 30-year-old to withdraw from the springboard synchro competition.
Malaysia have so far earned Olympic quota spots through Lomas (men's 10m platform and 3m springboard), Ken Nee (3m springboard) and Pandelela Rinong (women's 10m platform).
"No Malaysian has qualified for three events in a single Olympic Games and I want to be the first to achieve it," Lomas added.
Pandelela is the other Malaysian diver competing today, where she will take on some of the best in the world in the 10m platform individual.
As the 19-year-old has qualified for the event at last year's World Aquatic Championships in Shanghai, all eyes will be on her compatriot Traisy Vivien Tukiet to make it count.
Traisy missed Olympic qualification by two spots in Shanghai when the 18-year-old finished 14th but chances are brighter in London as the top-18 semi-finalists are ensured quota spots.
Read more: DIVING: All hopes on new combination - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/diving-all-hopes-on-new-combination-1.49342#ixzz1nNA5zxGy
No comments:
Post a Comment