Wendy And Jun Hoong Strike Bronze In 3m Springboard Synchro

Sweet bronze: Wendy Ng Yan Yee (right) and Cheong Jun Hoong are all smiles after the medal presentation ceremony for the women’s 3m springboard synchro event at the FINA Diving World Series in Edinburgh on Friday.

PETALING JAYA: Divers Cheong Jun Hoong-Wendy Ng Yan Yee earned a career breakthrough bronze medal for Malaysia in the women’s 3m springboard synchro at the FINA Diving World Series in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Friday night.

Jun Hoong-Wendy chalked up 283.80 points to bag Malaysia’s first-ever medal for the discipline in a world-level diving competition.

China’s Wu Minxia Wu-Shi Tingmao, the reigning 1m springboard world champions, bagged the gold with a 332.10 total while Britain’s Alicia Blagg-Rebecca Gallantree claimed the silver with 332.10 points.

Jun Hoong-Wendy were not consistent throughout the five-dive contest but they certainly deserved all the praise for not giving up.

Ranked fourth out of five pairs heading into last round, many would have thought Jun Hoong-Wendy, who were only paired up this year after Malaysia earned a quota spot for the event, were already out of medal contention.

Luck also played a big role in their success, especially going into the final dive.

Mexico’s Laura Sanchez-Daniela Ramirez, who dived before them, flopped in their final attempt.

Jun Hoong-Wendy then took advantage with a very promising inward 2½ somersault to earn 68.40 points to surge up the scoreboard for the precious bronze.

In the first two legs last month, Jun Hoong-Wendy finished sixth in Beijing and improved two rungs in the following week in Dubai.

”Our performance was all right tonight although we were quite nervous before the competition. Obviously, we are happy to win a medal for Malaysia,” said Jun Hoong in a telephone interview.

“We still have room for improvement. We are using the World Series to gain experience for the World Championships in Barcelona (in July),” added Jun Hoong.

Earlier on Friday, London Olympic bronze medallist Pandelela Rinong partnered Leong Mun Yee to bag Malaysia’s first medal – a silver in the women’s 10m platform synchro.

Pandelela, 2011 and 2012 national Sportswoman of the Year, will return to the pool today where she will bid for a second medal in the individual 10m platform.