THE first thing she did after climbing out of the pool was to call her father to convey the good news.
Diver Loh Zhiayi (pic) was bursting with excitement after a surprise win in the women’s platform final at the Sukma diving competition at Wisma Belia Swimming Pool in Bandar Indera Mahkota yesterday.The 15-year-old, representing Federal Territories, was impressive throughout the five-dive competition to clinch the gold medal with 258.70 points and, in the process, deny Jasmine Lai Pui Yee the chance of a clean sweep of all five gold medals at stake in the Pahang Sukma.
Perak diver Jasmine, who had won the 1m springboard and platform synchro earlier, did not execute the third dive well and settled for silver with 234.30 points.
Thirteen-year-old Nur Dhabitah Sabri took bronze for FT with 202.05 points.
Zhiayi and Jasmine were the only ones to dive from the 10m height (competitors are allowed to dive from 7m or 5m height for the 10m platform at the junior level).
Zhiayi was grinning from ear to ear as she awaited the official confirmation of the results and was delighted to be going home with gold in her third Sukma appearance.
“I never expected to win the gold medal. Jasmine was the favourite as she had higher difficulties, especially the third dive, but she did not execute it well,” said Zhiayi, who was only 11 when she made her Sukma debut in Terengganu in 2008.
“I’m satisfied with the way I performed and my dad told me the same thing. He was watching the competition on television and congratulated me when I called him.”
Zhiayi now has three medals so far, having taken silver with Nur Dhabitah Sabri in the platform synchro and also in the 1m springboard.
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