DIVING: Poor Third Attempt Sees Zhiayi Finish Fourth

A POOR entry in her third dive in the girls' 3m springboard ended Loh Zhiayi's hopes of a second medal in the Asian Youth Games (AYG) in Nanjing, China yesterday.

Zhiayi, who took silver in Saturday's 10m platform, was positioned third after two attempts with a healthy points difference over fourth-placed South Korean Kim Su Ji. However, a poor 39.20 in her third dive saw the Korean reducing the gap by 1.2 points.

The Malaysian bounced back with a commendable 52.80 series in the final round of competition but it was not enough to finish on the podium as Su Ji leapfrogged her with a superb dive.

China's Shen Yi won the gold medal by posting 240 points followed by compatriot Wang Weijie (236.35) and Su Ji (230.15). Zhiayi, 16, finished fourth on 215.90.

"My poor entry in the third dive ruined everything. I could have finished on the podium. It was a strong field and I tried my best to make an impression," said Zhiayi when contacted in Nanjing yesterday.

"Anyway, I am happy with my performance. I won a silver and this is progress. Hopefully, it will inspire me in upcoming meets."

In the boys' platform, Muhd Nazreen Abdullah finished fifth with a 269.60 total. China's Yue Qi topped the event by amassing 360.95 followed by teammate Zeng Jiajie (344.80), North Korea's Ri Hyanju (317.25) and Hong Kong's Zeng Tian Yi (287.85).

Meanwhile, Malaysia's 11-member squad comprising mostly gold medallists from last year's Malaysia Games in Kuantan, will start their campaign in the swimming competition (16-17 age bracket) in Nanjing today.

Singapore-based Lim Ching Hwang, 17, who made his World Championships debut in Barcelona last month, is expected to shine in the freestyle events.

He is one of the favourites in the 200m freestyle with a personal best of 1:50.42sec, which is faster than the previous AYG winning mark of 1:52.22 set in Singapore in 2009.

Ching Hwang is also expected to shine in the 100m freestyle as he has a personal best of 50.87.

"It is an opportunity to win medals as I will not be eligible for the next AYG. I have a chance to do well," said Ching Hwang recently.

Others in the fray are Wong Fu Kang, Welson Sim, Alwyn Tan, Chris Tan, Tan Rou Ying, Kok Cher Ling, Yap Siew Hui, , Phee Jing En, Nadia Adrianna Redza, and Angela Chieng. By Ajitpal Singh


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DIVING: Costly Mistake

LOH Zhiayi clinched her second international individual medal, a silver, at the Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, China yesterday.

Zhiayi, who is being groomed for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, posted a decent 235.50 total to finish second in the girls' 10m platform behind North Korea's Song Nam Hyang, who garnered 247.60 points.

China's Zheng Qi, who topped the preliminary round, finished third on 231.43.

The Malaysian, however, could have won the title if not for a costly mistake.

As the 16-year-old lined up to execute her final attempt from an armstand position, disaster struck.

Zhiayi went off balance and this led to points deducted on the retake. She earned only 43.20 points, and it affected her overall score.

"So near, yet so far. I had points deducted because I could not balance myself on the platform. I retook it.

"Nonetheless, I have achieved my target of a medal, so I am satisfied with second place," said Zhiayi when contacted in Nanjing yes terday.

"It is definitely a motivation ahead of tomorrow's 3m springboard."

Zhiayi, who rose to fame by bagging two gold medals at last year's Malaysia Games in Kuantan, was promoted to the national elite squad in January.

She won her first individual medal, a silver (platform individual), at the Sea Aquatic Championships in Singapore before clinching bronze with Cheong Jun Hoong in platform synchro, both last year.

In the boys' 3m springboard, Muhd Danial Sabri finished fourth with a 305.70 series.

China's Zheng Zhiqun won the gold by posting 377.75 followed by compatriot Huang Bowen (359.55) and Hong Kong's Zeng Tian Yi (366.10).

LOH ZHIAYI

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Zhiayi Misses Out On Second Medal

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.

PETALING JAYA: Loh Zhiayi came close to delivering a second medal for Malaysia at the Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, China, as she finished 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.

DIVING: Back-ups' Chance To Shine In Nanjing

DEBUTANTS: Three out to impress coach for ticket to Myanmar

WITH an eye on making their debut in December's Sea Games in Myanmar, back-up divers Loh Zhiayi, Mohd Nazreen Abdullah and Muhd Danial Sabri are eager to make an impact at the Asian Youth Games (AYG) starting today in Nanjing.

National coach Yang Zhuliang will use the two-day diving competition and the Asian Cup on Sept 25-30 to gauge the divers' form before finalising his Sea Games squad.

Danial will start his campaign today in the boys' springboard along with Zhiayi in the girls' platform. The Taiping-born Zhiayi is also down for the springboard and Nazreen in the boys' platform the following day.

"The trio have been showing progress both in training and in competitions.

"The recent stint in China has raised their confidence and self belief but they still lack the experience," said Zhuliang yesterday.

"They are divers with talent and I am confident they will be able to push for Olympic qualification in the future. As for now, they are still far behind."

"At the moment, they are inconsistent and I am unsure whether they can win titles in the Sea Games.

"However, they can prove me wrong in this tournament."

Regarded as the next big star in Malaysian diving, Zhiayi, 16, who finished fifth at last year's World Junior Championships in Adelaide, is the country's best bet for a medal in Nanjing.

She has been training diligently to increase her DD (degree of difficulty) in the last few months and hopes to impress in the AYG.

At the last AYG in Singapore four years ago, Malaysia won only a bronze through sailing due to the withdrawal of almost the entire contingent following the H1N1 outbreak.

Loh Zhiayi

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AYG: Zhiayi Gives Malaysia A Silver Start

Loh Zhiayi finished with 241.10 points to take home a silver in the women's platform final.

PETALING JAYA: Not only did diver Loh Zhiayi present herself with a perfect belated birthday gift, she also became the first medal winner for Malaysia in the Asian Youth Games (AYG) in Nanjing, China, on Saturday.

The Taiping-born girl, who turned 16 last Tuesday, got her wish to return home with a medal, finishing with a silver in the women’s platform final.

Despite not getting her act right in the fourth dive, Zhiayi managed to hold on and finish with 241.10 points in the final.

North Korea’s Song Nam-hyang, who was third after the morning preliminaries, sprang a suprise by grabbing the gold medal with 247.60 points. China’s Zheng Qi (235.50pts) had to be content with the bronze.

Zhiayi went into the final as the second best qualifier behind Zheng Qi and she did not disappoint the Malaysian camp.

But Zhiayi knows she let the gold slip from her grasp.

“It was so near yet so far. Just because of one dive, I have to be satisfied with the silver,” said Zhiayi from Nanjing.

“Still, I’m satisfied because I achieved my target of winning a medal to make my birthday more meaningful.”

Zhiayi, who finished fifth at the World Junior Championships in Adelaide last October, has a shot at a second medal when she competes in the women’s 3m springboard on Sunday.

The double Kuantan Sukma gold medallist is the only woman representative, with Mohd Nazreen springing into action in the boys’ platform today.

Meanwhile, Mohd Danial finished fourth in the men’s 3m springboard final yesterday.

The 68-member Malaysian contingent are among the 45 nations competing in this edition of the AYG, which features 15 sports.

At the last AYG in Singapore four years ago, Malaysia won only a bronze in sailing.

But that was due to Malaysia withdrawing the whole contingent, except for sailing, following the H1N1 outbreak.

Diver Zhiayi Aims For Birthday 'Gift' At AYG

PETALING JAYA: Taiping-born diver Loh Zhiayi turned 16 on Tuesday and wants to reward herself with a perfect belated birthday gift when she competes in the Asian Youth Games (AYG), starting in Nanjing, China, Saturday.

A team of three two boys and a girl – Mohd Nazreen Abdullah, Mohd Danial Sabri; and Zhiayi – arrived in the Chinese city Thusday night to vie for medals at the second edition of AYG, which ends on Aug 24.

The trio will compete in all four events – boys’ and girls’ 3m springboard and platform.

Zhiayi, who finished an impressive fifth at the World Junior Championships in Adelaide last October, has been tipped by head coach Yang Zhuliang to shine in the platform discipline.

“I hope to do well in the AYG so that my birthday will be more meaningful,” said the double gold medallist at last year’s Kuantan Sukma.

“After the recent one-month training stint in China, I feel like I’m a better diver now. I’ve increased my DD (degree of difficulty) since the world juniors. I’ll be executing two higher DD routines, 107B and 407C (both carrying 3.0 and 3.2 respectively) in future competitions.

“Hopefully, I can perform them well and see where they’ll take me.”

Zhuliang is counting on Zhiayi to do the country proud in Nanjing.

“We have a small team but we hope Zhiayi can deliver. She has a decent chance in platform. I hope Nazreen and Danial can give a good account of themselves too,” said Zhuliang, who is not in China but has put his assistant, Zhang Yikun, in charge.

The 68-member Malaysian contingent are among the 45 nations competing in this edition of the AYG, which features 15 sports.

At the last AYG held in Singapore four years ago, Malaysia won only a bronze medal in sailing.

But that was due to Malaysia withdrawing the whole contingent, except for sailing, following the H1N1 flu outbreak.

2nd Asian Youth Games

Nanjing, China
16 - 24 Aug 2013

Welson Sim	4 C’wealth
Loh Zhiayi	4 SEA
Muhammad Danial Sabri	4 Asean
Muhammad Nazreen Abdullah	3 SEA

Official Website