DIVING: Tze Liang's Brazilian Mission

PENANG'S Ooi Tze Liang may have swept all before him in this edition of the Malaysia Games but the 18-year-old national diver clearly has bigger goals set in his sights.

Ooi Tze Liang

Penang’s Ooi Tze Liang en route to winning the gold in the 10m platform at the Wisma Belia Aquatic Centre yesterday. Pic by Afif Abd Halim

Tze Liang, who barely missed out on qualifying for the London Olympics, said his goal over the next four years is to ensure that he will be a part of the Malaysian contingent to the 2016 Brazil Olympics for the 10m platform and 3m springboard events.

The Bukit Jalil Sports School student did well to reach the dive-off competition in the World Cup in London last February, the last Olympic qualifying event for the sport, but failed to make the cut at the final hurdle.



Tze Liang, who lists his Asian Games silver medal in the 10m platform synchronised event with Bryan Nickson Lomas as his greatest achievement to date, however, said he would compete in the next Malaysia Games despite its status as a development-level tournament.

"I really want to make sure I qualify for the Olympics in Brazil as that would certainly be the ultimate achievement for any athlete," said Tze Liang.

"I am happy with my achievements here as I came to win both my events and did so.

"I will continue to work hard and give my all towards achieving my goal in these four years leading up to the Games.

"I will take every chance I can to compete and keep on improving which includes competing in the Malaysia Games.

"I don't believe I should give way to the younger divers just to give them an easier chance to win, as they should earn it themselves through hard work."

Tze Liang, who took the 1m springboard gold on Monday, outclassed his opponents at the Wisma Belia Aquatic Centre yesterday as he clinched the title in the 10m platform with a total score of 400.80. Second was Muhammad Nazreen Abdullah of the Federal Territories (305.30) while third was Perak's Adrian Chan (269.75).

The women's 3m springboard synchronised event saw FT's Loh Zhiayi-Nur Dhabitah Sabri clinch the gold medal with a 267.48 total. Perak's Jasmine Lai-Kam Ling Kar placed second on 265.71 while third were Selangor's Adeline Chin-Ng Zheng Ni with a 229.08 total.

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