DIVING: No Winning Return For Pandelela

WORLD SERIES: Sarawakian finishes fourth in platform synchro with Jun Hoong

PANDELELA Rinong failed to make an explosive return in her first competition since the London Olympics but nonetheless, yesterday's performance in the World Series in Beijing will spur the youngster in the women's 10m platform individual tomorrow.

National coach Yang Zhuliang made an 11th hour decision by replacing Leong Mun Yee with Cheong Jun Hoong to partner Pandelela in the platform synchro and despite diving together for the first time in a competition, they managed to give the others a tough time.

Pandelela-Jun Hoong were third after posting 51.60, 47.40 and 66.60 in the opening three rounds but they could not sustain the pace as their rivals posted good scores from difficult routines in the remaining dives.

The Malaysians posted a combined total of 299.04 for fifth position.

China's Chen Ruolin-Li Huixia won the gold medal with a 351.78 series ahead of Canada's Meaghan Benfeito-Roseline Filion (316.71) and Russia's Iuliia Koltunova-Natalia Goncharova (316.56).

Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) secretary Edwin Chong said Mun Yee was unwell to compete yesterday.

"She has not been training hard since getting ill two weeks ago. We, however, hope she will be ready for next week's Dubai leg," said Chong yesterday.

Jun Hoong returned to the pool later for the 3m springboard synchro with Wendy Ng and the duo finished a commendable fourth.

Jun Hoong-Wendy posted a five-round score of 289.60 to finish ahead of two other pairs.

China's Wu Minxia-Shi Tingmao effortlessly won with a 336.60 total followed by Britain's Alicia Blagg-Rebecca Gallantree (305.79) and Ukraine's Olena Fedorova-Anna Pymenska (300.90).

In the men's springboard synchro, debutants Ahmad Amsyar Azman and Chew Yi Wei finished last in the seven-pair field with a 349.56 series.

He Chong-Qin Kai won China's third title of the day by recording 468.90 points ahead of Russia's silver medallists Ilya Zakharov-Evgeny Kuznetsov (430.32) and Mexico's Yahel Castillo-Islas Daniel (396.15).

Read more: DIVING: No winning return for Pandelela - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/diving-no-winning-return-for-pandelela-1.235698#ixzz2RFhD88Vb