Our Universiade Hopes Take A Dive

Pandelela Rinong won a silver at the last Games.

THE Malaysian contingent will have to look elsewhere for medals at the World University Games (Universiade) which kicksoff in Kazan, Russia, today with diving unlikely to deliver.

In the previous Games in Shenzhen, China, diving was the only sport to contribute medals with one silver and two bronzes.

Pandelela Rinong created history when she became the first Malaysian diver to claim a medal by winning silver in the 10m platform individual before adding bronze with Leong Mun Yee in the synchronised discipline.

The silver is the best result by a Malaysian athlete in Universiade history.

Malaysia was also awarded another bronze as the third best overall team for women’s events.

But Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM)’s decision to save the best for the World Aquatic Championships in Barcelona from July 19-Aug 4 meant senior divers including Cheong Jun Hoong and Wendy Ng Yan Yee will not be playing part in the biennial meet.

Ooi Tze Liang and Ahmad Amsyar are Malaysia’s best hope of an upset.

Ooi Tze Liang and Ahmad Amsyar are Malaysia’s best hope of an upset.

Instead, second stringers such as Ooi Tze Liang, Ahmad Amsyar Azman, Chew Yi Wei, Traisy Vivien Tukiet, Kam Ling Kar and Jasmine Lai, are being given a chance to shine and gain invaluable experience.

It will be too much to ask them to deliver against a world class field.

China will be represented by London 2012 gold medallist Luo Yutong who won the menʼs synchronised 3m springboard with Qin Kai.

The 27-year-old diver also won gold at two World Championships (2007, 2011) in the 1m springboard discipline.

China will also have several gold medallists from the 2011 Games such as Lin Jin (1m springboard), Wu Jun (10 metre platform), Huo Liang (synchronised 10 metre platform) and Games silver medallist Sun Zhiyi (1 metre springboard).

Our best hope will likely be in the synchronised events, particularly on the Tze Liang-Ahmad Amsyar partnership in the 3m springboard synchronised event.

The pair have benefited from competing in the Diving World Series (DWS) and will not be short of high level competition exposure.

Yiwei and Tzeliang will be the first group of athletes be in action today when they compete in the men’s 3m springboard individual.