Pandelela To Face Strong Rivals In FINA Diving World Series

High hopes: Malaysian Pandelela Rinong (above) will need to watch out for China’s untested rookie Si Yajie in Edinburgh next weekend.

PETALING JAYA: Diver Pandelela Rinong will have to raise her game if she hopes to make the podium in the third leg of the FINA Diving World Series in Edinburgh next weekend.

Pandelela returned to competition for the first time since the London Olympics to clinch a bronze medal in the individual platform in last month’s opening leg in Beijing.

Despite scoring higher in the following leg in Dubai, Pandelela had to be contented with only a fifth placing.

She scored 337.75 points in Beijing and 353.50 points in Dubai.

It will be a tougher field in Edinburgh as China have decided to exercise their option of entering a second diver – untested rookie Si Yajie – alongside reigning world and Olympic champion Chen Ruolin.

Canadian Meaghan Benfeito, who took silver behind Ruolin in Beijing and Dubai, is skipping the third leg but Australia’s Olympic silver medallist Brittany Broben, Mexico’s Orozco Alejandra and Russia’s Yulia Koltunova, bronze medallist in Dubai, will be present in Edinburgh.

Coach Yang Zhuliang, though happy with Pandelela’s progress in both the legs, feels that she needs to do better.

“I believe she was slightly nervous as she had just recovered from an ankle problem which kept her out of competitions,” he said.

“Her rivals are pushing hard and she needs to make progress or she’ll be left behind.

“China have two divers next weekend. The second diver may have little experience but her skills are good enough to fight for a podium finish ... otherwise China will not field her.

“It’ll be a very close fight for the medals if everyone gives her best.”

Pandelela will be on double duty as she is also partnering Cheong Jun Hoong in the women’s 10m platform synchro.

Zhuliang is resting Leong Mun Yee from the Edinburgh trip as he continues with his experiments before deciding on the strongest partnership for the World Championships in Barcelona in July.

Jun Hoong will also combine with Wendy Ng Yan Yee in the 3m springboard synchro while Ahmad Amsyar will combine with Ooi Tze Liang in the men’s 3m springboard synchro in Edinburgh.