Zhiayi Puts On Impressive Show In Asian Swimming Championships

Zhiayi (right) and Jun Hoong posing with their bronze medals.

PETALING JAYA: Football great Diego Maradona was the star attraction as he visited the venue to cheer on the divers competing in the Asian Swimming Championships in Dubai yesterday.

And Malaysia also witnessed a star of their own in the making as young diver Loh Zhiayi showed her potential in the platform discipline by bagging her first medal of the championships.

The 15-year-old partnered Cheong Jun Hoong for the first time to clinch the bronze in the women’s 10m platform synchro final with a total of 230.82 points.

China’s Xing Yiying-Wang Wenna captured the gold with 315.21 points while Japan’s Yuka Mabuchi-Fuka Tatsumi took the silver on 240.72.

Zhiayi made her debut in the quadrennial Asian meet with a fourth place in the individual 10m platform on Thursday.

Zhiayi, a double gold medallist at the Kuantan Sukma early this year, will be delighted to return home with a medal as she was not even supposed to be competing in the first place.

Zhiayi only learnt that she had been selected two weeks ago after London Olympic bronze medallist Pandelela Rinong was excluded from the team due to an ankle injury.

The country’s number two woman platform diver, Traisy Vivien Tukiet, was not considered because she was sitting for her SPM exams.

Zhiayi was delighted to have made the podium in only her second senior outing after the inaugural SEA Aquatics Championships in Singapore in June.

“The competition isn’t that strong for women’s synchro but I’m pleased as this was the first time I was diving with Jun Hoong.

“It will motivate me to fight for another medal in the women’s springboard synchro,” she said.

There were more cheers for the team as Ooi Tze Liang-Chew Yiwei claimed a second bronze for Malaysia in the men’s 10m platform synchro behind a Japanese pair.

Malaysia have four medals to show from diving so far.

Tze Liang partnered Yiwei to silver in the men’s 3m springboard synchro and earned a second silver in the individual springboard earlier.

Yiwei and Tze Liang Give Malaysia An Unexpected Medal In Diving

Great start: Ooi Tze Liang (left) and Chew Yiwei dive during the men’s 3m springboard synchro final in Dubai yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: Youngster Chew Yiwei made a splashing debut, partnering Ooi Tze Liang to clinch silver for Malaysia on the opening day of the diving competition of the Asian Swimming Cham­pion­ships in Dubai yesterday.

The 17-year-old from the back-up squad was contesting with Tze Liang for the first time and they managed to secure second place in the men’s 3m springboard synchro with 336.33 points.

China’s back-up pair Lin Jin-Su Zewan took gold with 399.57 points while Hong Kong’s Jason Wai-Chow Ho Wing claimed the bronze (322.95).

It was Malaysia’s first medal in the Asian championships, which is held every four years.

Malaysia had representatives in swimming and synchronised swimming but they were not expected to contend for a medal.

Head coach Yang Zhuliang said Yiwei, a double gold medallist in springboard at the Kuantan Sukma in July, showed positive signs of forming a strong partnership with national team member Tze Liang.

Yiwei also won the men’s springboard at the Southeast Asia Aquatics Championships in Singapore in June and was given the chance to partner Tze Liang as Bryan Nickson Lomas had opted out due to university exams.

“It was an unexpected performance from the duo as they were diving together for the first time,” said Zhuliang.

“We were unsure about the strength of the field in the event and fielded them as they were already contesting the individual springboard as well.

“It’s a good start in the competition and we hope to win more medals.”

Loh Zhiayi was due to dive in the women’s individual 10m platform at press-time.

The 16-year-old is making her debut in the Asian championships in the absence of Olympic bronze medallist Pandelela Rinong, who is recovering from an ankle injury.

Yiwei will compete in the men’s 3m springboard while Wendy Ng Yan Yee will partner Cheong Jun Hoong for the women’s 3m spring­board synchro today

Second Silver For Tze Liang

http://www.sports247.my/2012/11/second-silver-for-tze-liang/

Ooi Tze Liang (left) Chew Yi Wei won the silver in the men’s synchronised 3m springboard on Thursday, and Tze Liang followed up with his second silver medalin the men’s 3m springboard

DIVER Ooi Tze Liang collected his second silver medal at the 9th Asian Swimming Championships when he finished second in the men’s 3m springboard.

Tze Liang, who partnered Chew Yi Wei to the silver medal in the men’s synchronised 3m springboard on Thursday, finished the individual event with 440.50 points.

China’s China’s Zhou Xin (480.25) and Xie Zhen of Hong Kong (420.75) picked up the gold and bronze respectively.

There was more good news for Malaysia as Loh Zhiayi-Cheong Jun Hoong collected 230.82 points to take home the bronze in the women’s synchronised 10m platform.

China’s Xing Yiying-Wang Wenna earned 315.21 points for the gold, while Yuka Mabuchi-Fuka Tatsumi of Japan scored 240.72 points to take home the silver.

Double Duty In Barcelona

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian long distance swimmers Kevin Yeap and Khoo Cai Lin are set for double duty at the World Championships in Barcelona next July after winning a second quota spot for their respective pet events at the Asian Swimming Championships in Dubai.

Kevin finished fifth in the men’s 1,500m freestyle final in 15:40.87 on Saturday to dip under the world championship qualifying mark of 15:46.38.

It was a satisfactory end to his campaign as he only finished behind two Japanese and two Chinese swimmers in a top class list spearheaded by double Olympic champion Sun Yang.

Sun Yang, who trains in Australia, splashed to his third gold and a third championship record with a time of 14:44.10 in the longest race of the programme.

But it was well below his world record of 14:31.02, which he set at the London Olympics this year.

Kevin, the gold medallist at the Indonesia SEA Games last year, beat the qualifying time for the 400m freestyle in finishing fourth on Friday.

Cai Lin did not post a fast time in the women’s 400m freestyle final but her 4:17.88 gave her fifth placing and beat the world meet qualifying time of 4:18.55.

It was enough for her to book a second quota spot after achieving her first in the 800m freestyle at the London Olympics.

Xu Danlu led a Chinese sweep of the gold and silver with a new championship record of 4:05.75 ahead of compatriot Shao Yiwen (4:10.98).

Thailand’s Natthanan Junkrajang touched home ahead of Japan’s Tsuzumi Hasegawa to grab the bronze in 4:14.59.

The Dubai meet is a designated continental qualifying event for the World Championships and breaststroker Yap See Tuan was the only one of the three Malaysians to miss the mark.

See Tuan managed to reach the men’s 200m breaststroke final but finished seventh in 2:18.21.

He had been eighth in the 100m breaststroke in 1:04.48.

The Asian meet is held every four years and the synchro swimming competition ends today. Malaysia’s Lee sisters, Zyanne and Zylane, are currently placed fifth after the free duet discipline (73.690).

Olympic bronze medallists China lead with 94.040 points and second placed Japan (91.510) will find it hard to unseat their arch rivals unless they produce an exceptional performance in the technical discipline.

Kevin Qualifies For World Meet Despite Finishing Fourth In Dubai

Ready for the world: Kevin Yeap dipped under the World Cham pionships qualifying time of 3:57.58 for the 400m freestyle.

PETALING JAYA: Kevin Yeap, swimming in the company of double Olympic champion Sun Yang, just missed out on a medal after coming in fourth in the 400m freestyle final at the Asian Swimming Championships in Dubai on Friday.

But there was still reason to smile for the 23-year-old Malaysian as he dipped under the World Cham­pionships qualifying time of 3:57.58 for the event.

Kevin clearly enjoyed the opportunity to swim with the Chinese world record holder and it inspired him to finish in 3:54.74, just 0.15s behind third placed Takumi Komatsu of Japan.

It was a new personal best for Kevin, who won the SEA Games gold medal in the discipline last year. More importantly, it assured him a place in the World Championships in Barcelona next July.

Kevin will definitely be primed for an assault on Daniel Bego’s national record of 3:53.99 set in 2009 at the Laos SEA Games when he swims at the world meet.

Australia-based Sun Yang raced to an easy victory with a new championship record of 3:42.49 while team-mate Hao Yun clocked 3:54.34 for the silver.

Kevin had the sixth fastest time of 4:02.47 in the preliminaries to book a place in the final.

He just missed out on the world meet qualifying mark of 1:52.21 for the 200m freestyle after finishing fifth in 1:52.64 in the final, which was also won by Sun Yang.

Khoo Cai Lin made a rare appearance in the women’s 400m individual medley and did well to reach the final, placing fifth with a personal best of 4:56.64.

Malaysia are only represented by three swimmers in Dubai. Yap See Tuan was the first to see action but missed out on making the final of the men’s 50m breaststroke.

He was 13th fastest in the preliminaries with a time of 29.96.

The Asian meet is held every four years and the diving contest will take place next week.

Lee Sisters Hope To Make Impact In Debut As A Pair

KUALA LUMPUR: The Lee sisters want to be remembered for more than just pretty poses at the pool when they compete in the Asian Swimming Championships, which begin in Dubai tomorrow.

Zyanne Lee Zhien Huey, 23, will partner Zylane Lee Yhing Huey, 20, in the duet discipline of the synchro swimming competition.

It will be their first outing in the Asian meet, which is held every four years. The meet also includes swimming, diving and waterpolo.

It was exactly a year ago that Zyanne and Zylane, together with Katrina Ann Hadi, played pivotal roles to help Malaysia pull off a grand clean sweep of all five gold medals in the Indonesia SEA Games.

However, Katrina, who was the number one ranked synchro swimmer then, is unable to compete in the Asian meet due to injury.

The path is clear for the two sisters to combine for the first time in a major championships and they are determined to make the most of the opportunity.

“Zylane and I have given our all in training. We hope to produce a good result, and of course, to fight for a medal.

“We hope to perform to our best in both our routines as we are targeting higher marks than our previous competitions,” said Zyanne, who was a gold medallist for Malaysia in the SEA Aquatic Championships in Singapore in June.

Olympic silver medallists China look set to clinch the gold and Japan should take the silver. Malaysia could nick a medal at the expense of South Korea and Uzbekistan, provided they can raise their performance on competition day.

The two sisters left for Dubai on Monday with swimmers Khoo Cai Lin, Yap See Tuan and Kevin Yeap.

Swimming will also take place this weekend but hopes of snatching a medal still rests on the diving team, despite being weakened by the absence of seniors Pandelela Rinong, Leong Mun Yee and Bryan Nickson Lomas.

The divers will only compete the following week (Nov 22-25) and Malaysia will be represented by two men (Ooi Tze Liang and Chew Yiwei) and three women (Wendy Ng Yan Yee, Cheong Jun Hoong and Loh Zhiayi.

DIVING: Difficult in Dubai

ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: Squad will be without some top stars

MALAYSIA will send a depleted squad to the Asian Diving Championships after national coach Yang Zhuliang (pic) decided to leave out Olympic bronze medallist Pandelela Rinong, Leong Mun Yee and Bryan Nickson Lomas from the Nov 22-25 event in Dubai.

Pandelela, 19, who injured her left ankle in training three weeks ago, has yet to recover while Mun Yee and Lomas, students of Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Malaya respectively, are sitting for exams.

Olympian Traisy Vivien Tukiet, together with upcoming divers Jasmine Lai and Kam Ling Kar, are currently sitting for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia exam.

Cheong Jun Hoong, gold medallist at last year's Indonesia Sea Games, and Wendy Ng are the only Olympians in the five-member squad for the Asian meet, held every four years.

Also in the team are 15-year-old Loh Zhiayi, Ooi Tze Liang and Chew Yiwei.

Jun Hoong and Wendy will compete in the women's 3-metre springboard while Jiayi is down for the 10m platform.

Jun Hoong and Yiwei will be in action in the men's 3m springboard individual and synchro.

With a depleted side, Zhuliang said except for the women's springboard, it will be tough to win medals.

"Jun Hoong and Wendy are experienced divers who have competed in several priority competitions and I believe they have a chance in the springboard," said Zhuliang yesterday.

"I am, however, confident the rest will make an impression as they have improved a lot from recent exposure.

"We are sending a depleted squad while world champions China and Japan are sending their best divers."

On whether Pandelela's injury was serious, he felt it was better for the diver to rest.

"I do not want her to aggravate it (the injury) as she has already proved herself in so many tournaments for the last 11 months.

"She may return to competition in the Asean University Games in December," Zhuliang added.

Meanwhile, Khoo Cai Lin, Kevin Yeap and Yap See Tuan will represent Malaysia in the Asian Swimming Championships, also in Dubai.

Cai Lin, an Olympian who holds four individual national records, will compete in the women's 400m and 800m freestyle while Kevin Yeap, a Sea Games champion, in the men's 400m and 1,500 freestyle.

See Tuan will make his debut in the men's 100m and 200m breaststroke.

Coach Paul Birmingham hopes his swimmers will at least break national records.

"The swimmers are doing well in training. I hope the expected tough field in Dubai will spur them to make an impression," said Birmingham.

Read more: DIVING: Difficult in Dubai - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/diving-difficult-in-dubai-1.167625#ixzz2BcH2zWmf

9th Asian Swimming Championship 2012

BJSS Participants:
1.	Zylane Lee YH	Synchro	Pre U Sc 3
2.	Chew Yiwei	Diving	5 Olympic
3.	Davis Ooi TL	Diving	5 Sukma
4.	Loh Zhiayi	Diving	3 Asian

Pandelela Doubtful For Asian Meet Due To Left Ankle Injury

Playing it safe: Pandelela Rinong can’t jump without putting stress on her ankles.

KUALA LUMPUR: Diver Pandelela Rinong is a doubtful starter for the Asian Championships in Dubai from Nov 22-25 because of a left ankle injury.

Head coach Yang Zhuliang said the 19-year-old Olympic bronze medallist sustained the injury in training recently and it has prevented her from executing the full somersault routines.

“Pandelela cannot jump without putting stress on her ankles ... she is not doing the full somersault routines.

“She has, however, shown signs of improvement today but I want to see her condition first before making a decision next week.

“It’s the end of the year and I do not want to push any diver if they are not in good condition.

“There is still a week left before we have to sumbit the final squad list for the Asian meet,” said Zhuliang, who signed a two-year contract extension to handle the national squad last week.

If Pandelela stays back, then her partner Leong Mun Yee will also be ruled out of the women’s 10m synchro platform.

Malaysia are not sending a big squad to Dubai as London Olympian Traisy Vivien Tukiet, Jasmine Lai and Lam Ling Kar will be sitting for the SPM examinations this month.

The ones shortlisted are Bryan Nickson Lomas, Ooi Tze Liang, Chew Yiwei, Cheong Jun Hoong and Wendy Ng Yan Yee.

Zhuliang is not putting high hopes on the divers to shine as they did not undergo the kind of intensive preparations in the run-up to the London Olympics.

“The divers are only training here and preparations are not as good as if we had sent them to China,” said Zhuliang.

“Our facilities here are adequate for normal routines ... not for high-intensity training, which our divers need if they are to fight for medals.

“China, I understand, are also sending their national divers and will start as favourites.”

The Asian meet, held every two years, also includes swimming, synchro swimming and waterpolo.

DIVING: Battle Of Equals

ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: China to send their best to fight Malaysia

Pandelela Rinong is nursing an ankle injury picked up during training.

CHINA, the world's strongest diving nation, now treats Malaysia as an equal.

After learning about national coach Yang Zhuliang's intentions to send his best divers for the Asian Championships, scheduled for Nov 22-25, in Dubai, China have decided to do the same.

Province-level divers were initially selected for the Asian meet but the China Diving Association changed its mind after learning that Malaysia will be led by Olympic bronze medallist Pandelela Rinong and Leong Mun Yee.

"China want to win everything. They first thought they could win the overall title with province-level divers," said Zhuliang at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil.

"But they changed their mind after I told them that I will send my best."

Zhuliang, however, may not get his wish as Pandelela is doubtful after injuring her left ankle in training two weeks ago.

Although the injury is not serious, the 19-year-old does not want to aggravate it.

"Pandelela has started light training but cannot execute tough routines at the moment. I will decide next week on whether she should be in the team," said Zhuliang.

Mun Yee, who is Pandelela's partner in the platform synchro, will also not go if the latter is unfit.

Mun Yee, who also has an ankle problem, prefers to remain in Kuala Lumpur to attend classes at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

China-born Huang Qiang, 30, who made his Olympic debut with Malaysia in London, will not compete in Dubai as he has stopped training and has resumed his coaching duties.

"Huang Qiang cannot continue as an athlete as the allowance is not enough for expenses. He wants to continue as a coach," said Zhuliang.

Olympian Traisy Vivien Tukiet, Jasmine Lai and Kam Ling Kar have all withdrawn as they will be sitting for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia exams.

On Malaysia's target in Dubai, Zhuliang said his divers are good for medals.

"We, however, are not quite prepared because we did not go to China. The training facilities here are not good enough for world class divers," Zhuliang added.

Read more: DIVING: Battle of equals - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/diving-battle-of-equals-1.165049#ixzz2B1gxGj3E