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| So close: Diver Loh Zhiayi missed out on landing a second medal at the Asian Youth Games (AYG) in Nanjing, China after finishing fourth in the girls’ 3m springboard final. |
The 16-year-old, who clinched a first-ever silver in the platform discipline on Saturday, had not been expected to contend for another medal in the event that she hardly practises.
However, Zhiayi, will surely be disappointed with the final outcome, considering she did actually have a chance of stepping onto the podium.
She started well to put herself in a silver-medal position after the first dive but disaster struck in the third attempt as a bad entry left her with a dismal score.
With Chinese pair Shen Yi and Wang Weijie already cruising ahead for a one-two finish, Zhiayi’s third spot was under threat with nearest rival Kim Su-ji of South Korea just 1.2 points behind.
Zhiayi bounced back with a better execution in the fourth and final dive but could do nothing to stop Su-ji, who also dived superbly, from surpassing her for the bronze medal.
Zhiayi amassed a total of 434.80 to settle for fourth behind Shen Yi (465.75), Weijie (448.20) and Su-ji (441.00).
“It was quite frustrating as one dive ruined it all again. I could have won one more medal ... wasted again (referring to missing on the gold medal on Saturday). The opponents I faced today, they are all good springboard divers.
“That is why I don’t think I have any chance. I think I did the best I could with the exception of my third dive in the final.
“It’s all over now, at least I am bringing home a silver after all. It’s time to look forward to the next competition,” she said from Nanjing.
Mohd Nazreen finished fifth in the men’s platform event later.
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