DIVING: Nazreen's Malaysia Day Joy

MUHD Nazreen Abdullah earned a breakthrough on Malaysia Day by winning his first career individual senior title in the Asian Diving Cup at Toa Payoh Swimming Complex in Singapore yesterday.

Despite competing against several experienced divers, the 14-year-old showed nerves of steel to win the men's 10m platform gold medal by posting a six-dive total of 345.05 points.

Singapore's Jonathan Chan finished second with a 320.65 total with Indonesia's Adityo Restu taking bronze on 229.50.

Adeline Chin added a silver to Malaysia's tally in the women's 3m springboard individual with a 222.80 series to finish behind Singapore's Fong Kay Yian (238.10).

It was Nazreen's second gold medal in the meet. On Saturday, the Malaysia Games medallist partnered Mohd Danial Sabri to win the men's 10m platform synchro title. Nazreen's performance offers hope following the retirements of Bryan Nickson Lomas, Yeoh Ken Nee and Huang Qiang.

The diver finished fifth at the Asian Youth Games in Nanjing and ninth at the World Junior Championships in Adelaide, both last month.

National coach Yang Zhuliang was delighted with his second stringers' achievements in Singapore as they won five of eight titles to become overall champions at the biennial meet.

Other gold medals came from the women's platform (Nur Dhabitah Sabri), platform synchro (Nur Dhabital-Trasie Vivien Tukiet) and 3m springboard synchro (Jasmine Lai-Kam Ling Kar).

The Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) used the competition to give the junior divers vital exposure.

"They may need two or three years of exposure before we can see their progress. They are being groomed for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro," said ASUM secretary Edwin Chong.

The divers will return to Kuala Lumpur and resume preparation for December's Sea Games in Myanmar. By Ajitpal Singh

Read more: DIVING: Nazreen's Malaysia Day joy - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/diving-nazreen-s-malaysia-day-joy-1.357561#ixzz2gAMS9lII

Dhabitah's Star Set To Shine

Nur Dhabitah Sabri is training on a higher degree of difficulty routines compared to the more experienced Pandelela Rinong and Traisie Vivien Tukiet.

PETALING JAYA: The future is rosy for diver Nur Dhabitah Sabri. She has the potential to be as good as, if not better than, Olympic bronze medallist Pandelela Rinong.

The 14-year-old Dhabitah won two gold medals in only her second international outing at the just-concluded Asian Diving Cup in Singapore.

She partnered London Olympian Traisie Vivien Tukiet to take gold in the women’s 10m platform synchro and claim one for herself in the individual platform the following day – beating Asian Youth Games silver medallist Loh Zhiayi in the process.

Zhiayi, two years older and also from Kuala Lumpur, took the silver.

But what is more interesting about Dhabitah’s achievement in the individual discipline is that she is training on a higher degree of difficulty (DD) routines compared to the more experienced Pandelela and Traisie.

It is also testament to her talent and diligence, without which the coach clearly would not have given her the opportunity to train at the higher level of difficulty.

Dhabitah is able to excute all her dives from 10m (5m and 7m is allowed at the junior level) and the set of five dives she executes in competition now is higher than what World Championships bronze medallist Pandelela does.

Dhabitah, who bagged two golds at the Kuantan Sukma last year, has a combined DD of 16.0 as compared to Pandelela’s 15.5.

She is also learning the 207C (a back 3½ somersault tuck routine), which carries a DD of 3.3. It’s a routine that Pandelela has not been able to pick up.

“I must improve on my point collection and that why the coach has raised my DD higher.

“With the DD I have, I should be scoring higher points. But I’m still not consistent and am a long way off from being as good as Pandelela.

“I’ve not had the chance to go for more competitions as I’m still young and there is an age limit for most senior competitions.

“I’ll need more exposure for continuous improvement,” said Dhabitah, who also impressed in her first competition this year – the United States Grand Prix in Fort Lauderlade in May.

At 13, Dhabitah just missed out on making the women’s 10m platform semi-finals after finishing 14th in the preliminaries out of a field of 25.

Dhabitah first caught public attention when she bagged two gold medals in the SEA Aquatics Championships in Singapore last year, an achievement that won her a promotion to the elite squad.

DIVING: Second Gold for Nur Dhabitah

ASIAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS: 14-year-old edges Zhiayi in the 10m platform as Jasmine-Ling Kar win 3m springboard

NUR Dhabitah Sabri bagged a second title in the Asian Diving Cup by edging compatriot and Asian Youth Championships silver medallist Loh Zhiayi in the women's 10m platform at Toa Payoh Swimming Complex in Singapore yesterday.

A double gold medallist at last year's Malaysia Games in Kuantan, Nur Dhabitah, who partnered Traisy Vivien to the 10m platform synchro gold on Saturday, posted a 274.45 total to edge Zhiayi by 0.75 points for the win. Indonesia's Yasmin Linadina finished third on 233.90.

Malaysia won a second gold yesterday through Jasmine Lai-Kam Ling Kar in the women's 3m springboard synchro.

It was a close battle between the two Sea Games-bound divers but Nur Dhabitah, who has mastered high degree of difficult (DD) in training, managed to overcome Zhiayi in the final fifth dive with a near-perfect execution.

Nur Dhabitah, whose last international was the recent World Grand Prix leg in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the US, is regarded as the next best thing after Olympic bronze medallist Pandelela Rinong in platform diving.

The 14-year-old has a combined five-dive DD of 16 (3.0, 3.2, 3.2, 3.3, 3.3) compared to Pandelela's 15.5. However, the youngster, who was promoted to the elite squad in February, is still inconsistent.

Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia secretary Edwin Chong said Nur Dhabitah's encouraging performance in Singapore is attributed to her hard work in training.

"She has improved a lot but still needs to fine tune her routines. If she continues with her form, she will become a good diver," said Edwin yesterday.

In the 3m springboard synchro, Jasmine-Ling Kar posted a combined 248.16 total for the title followed by Singapore's Fong Kay Yian-Myra Lee (227.34) and Indonesia's Eka Purname-Dewi Setyaningsih (215.91).

Mohd Danial Sabri and Mohd Nazreen finished fifth and seventh respectively in the men's 3m springboard event.

Malaysia have now won four of five titles in the Asian Cup with three events left.

Read more: DIVING: Second gold for Nur Dhabitah - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/diving-second-gold-for-nur-dhabitah-1.356852#ixzz2gANTkiAy

Nazreen Bags Another Gold On Final Day Of Asian Diving Cup

PETALING JAYA: There was joy for youngster Muhd Nazreen Abdullah on Malaysia Day as he claimed the men’s 10m platform individual gold on the final day of the Asian Diving Cup at the Toa Payoh Swimming Complex in Singapore on Monday.

The 14-year-old, never an individual gold medallist at Sukma level, earned his breakthrough victory at senior international level by posting a six-dive total of 345.05 points. Jonathan Chan of Singapore took the silver after chalking up 320.65 points with Adityo Restu of Indonesia earning the bronze with a 229.50 total.

It was Nazreen’s second gold, having partnered Mohd Danial Sabri to the men’s 10m platform synchro title on Saturday.

Malaysia also picked up a silver through Adeline Chin in the women’s 3m springboard individual. She amassed 222.80 points to finish behind Singapore’s Fong Kay Yian (238.10).

Malaysia ended the three-day championships as overall champions. They bagged five out of the eight golds at stake.

Nur Dhabitah, Danial’s younger sister, also won two golds. She won the 10m platform individual and the 10m synchro platform with Trasie Vivien Tukiet.

Jasmine Lai-Kam Ling Kar contributed the other gold, emerging champions in the 3m springboard on Sunday.

Nazreen’s two-gold show offers a ray of hope for the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) following the retirements of Bryan Nickson Lomas, Yeoh Ken Nee and Huang Qiang.

“Nazreen and Danial still have a long way to go before they can reach the standards of Bryan and Ken Nee,” said Asum secretary Edwin Chong.

“They are in the 14-16 age bracket and may need two to three more years to be really ready for the major international meets.

“We brought them into the elite national squad at the start of the year as we need to groom them.

“We will be exposing this group to more big competitions from now on. For a start, they will be going for the Myanmar SEA Games in December,” he said.

DIVING: Sabri Siblings Shine In Singapore

ASIAN DIVING CUP: Second stringers make their mark

THE Sabri siblings, Mohd Danial and Nur Dhabitah led Malaysia to a bright start on the opening day of the Asian Diving Cup with two gold medals at Toa Payoh Swimming Complex in Singapore yesterday.

Sea Games-bound Nur Dhabitah and Olympian Traisy Vivien Tukiet bagged the women's 10m platform synchro with a 2.77.98 series followed by Indonesia (224.22) and Singapore (189,42).

Dhabitah's elder brother Mohd Danial partnered Mohd Nazreen for the men's 10m platform synchro title by posting 316.83 points ahead of second-placed Singapore (273.24).

Malaysia are represented by their second stringers (who are being groomed for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro) in the biennial event, which has attracted only four nations, including Hong Kong.

World and Olympic champions China and Japan did not send their divers.

Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) secretary Edwin Chong said the event serves as a platform to gauge the national divers, who will be making their debut in December's Sea Games in Myanmar.

"Singapore and Indonesia are represented by their Sea Games squads.

"We picked only juniors as they do not have many events on their calendar," said Edwin yesterday.

"For Dhabitah, this is her second international senior outing after the World Grand Prix leg in Fort Lauderdale this year.

"We need them to gain experience at the continental level and also for the coaches to know what needs to be improved."

Two years ago in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia who were then represented by Pandelela Rinong, Leong Mun Yee, Bryan Nickson Lomas and Yeoh Ken Nee, won three gold.

Nur Dhabitah

Read more: DIVING: Sabri siblings shine in Singapore - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/diving-sabri-siblings-shine-in-singapore-1.356089#ixzz2gALdui9p

Dhabitah Bags Second Straight Gold In Asian Diving Cup

PETALING JAYA: Youngster Nur Dhabitah Sabri proved she is Malaysia’s diver of the future with a second straight gold medal in the Asian Diving Cup at the Toa Payoh Swimming Complex in Singapore on Sunday.

The 14-year-old, who won the women’s 10m platform synchro with Traisy Vivien Tukiet on Saturday, upstaged compatriot Loh Zhiayi for the individual platform crown. The 16-year-old Zhiayi was the favourite, having won the silver at the Asian Youth Games in Nanjing last month.

Dhabitah amassed 274.45 points compared to Zhiayi’s total of 273.70. Indonesia’s Yasmin Linadini was third with a 233.90 total.

“I did not expect to beat Zhiayi as she is better than me in the platform. But I’ve beaten her before, in the 3m springboard at the Kuantan Sukma last year,” said Dhabitah, who is bound for the Myanmar SEA Games in December.

“It’s a sweet and meaningful victory. But at the end of the day, winning honours for the country matters more and I have delivered two,” added Dhabitah.

Malaysia continued to stamp their mark in the absence of top diving nation China with Jasmine Lai-Kam Ling Kar contributing the team’s fourth gold in the women’s 3m springboad synchro final.

Jasmine-Ling Kar combined for a 248.16 total to finish ahead of Fong Kay Yian-Myra Lee of Singapore (227.34) and Eka Purnama-Dewi Setyaningsih (215.91) of Indonesia.

There was, however, no joy this time for Mohd Danial Sabri and Mohd Nazreen Abdullah.

Danial and Nazreen, who won the men’s 10m platform synchro gold on Saturday, failed to impress in the 3m springboard individual.

Danial could only manage a fifth placing while Nazreen finished seventh.

Danial and Nur Dhabitah Scoop Golds In 10m Synchro Events In Singapore

Nur Dhabitah Sabri partnered Trasie Vivien Tukiet to clinch the gold in the Asian Diving Cup women’s 10m platform synchro at the Tao Payoh Swimming Complex in Singapore on Saturday.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia made a superb start to their campaign in the Asian Diving Cup, winning both the platform synchro gold medals at the Tao Payoh Swimming Complex in Singapore on Saturday.

Myanmar SEA Games-bound junior Nur Dhabitah Sabri partnered Trasie Vivien Tukiet to clinch the gold in the women’s 10m platform synchro with a 277.98 total ahead of Indonesian (224.22) and Singaporean (189.42) pairings.

There was further joy for the Sabri family as Mohd Danial, Nur Dhabitah’s elder brother, combined well with Mohd Nazreen to hand Malaysia the men’s 10m platform synchro title as well.

Danial and Nazreen, also bound for the SEA Games, scored 316.83 points ahead of the pair from Singapore (273.24).

Malaysia did not send the national elite divers but opted to give the juniors a chance to see where they stand at international level.

China and Japan did not participate in the Asian Diving Cup this time, which is held on a biennial basis, but the meet will still serve as a good development platform for the juniors.

Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) secretary Edwin Chong said Singapore and Indonesia fielded their SEA Games divers.

“We decided to send the juniors as they do not have many competitions to compete in, unlike the seniors.

“Dhabitah, for example, only went for the United States Grand Prix in Fort Lauderlade this year.

“This is only her second competition.

“As for Nazreen and Danial, we are grooming them for the future. So winning the gold is good for their confidence,” added Edwin.

Malaysia, fielding divers like Pandelela Rinong and Yeoh Ken Nee, bagged three golds in the previous Asian Diving Cup in Kuala Lumpur two years ago.

Zhiayi, Dhabitah Out To Prove Themselves In Asian Cup

Nur Dhabitah Sabri: 'It is really a dream come true to make a SEA Games debut at my age, I will do my best in Myanmar but now I would like to concentrate on doing well in the Asian Diving Cup first.'

KUALA LUMPUR: Youngsters Loh Zhiayi and Nur Dhabitah Sabri are out to justify their selection for the SEA Games diving squad by delivering a strong performance at the Asian Diving Cup in Singapore this weekend.

SEA Games host Myanmar’s restriction on the number of athletes a country can send per sport (six men and six women) has forced Amateur Swimming Union Association of Malaysia (Asum) to abandon their plan to send as many back-up divers as possible.

Despite being a dominant force in the region’s diving event, after bagging seven out of the eight SEA Games golds in Indonesia, Malaysia are taking no chances and have listed seniors like Pandelela Rinong, Leong Mun Yee, Cheong Jun Hoong and Wendy Ng Yan Yee, leaving only two remaining spots to be battled out among the female back-up divers.

Zhiayi, who created history by winning Malaysia’s first silver medal at the Asian Youth Games in Nanjing recently, and Dhabitah, a South-East Asian Championships double gold medallist, were listed ahead of seniors Traisy Vivien Tukiet and Kam Ling Kar, silver medallists at the Indonesia SEA Games two years ago.

“I will have to continue to prove myself and the Asian Diving Cup could not have come at a better time for me to do so.

“I will try to win some medals in Singapore but what is more important is to execute my dive well with minimal mistakes.

“The SEA Games will be a different thing altogether. It is a senior level competition, so I am really glad to be selected,” said 16-year-old Zhiayi.

Equally delighted is Dhabitah, who together with Zhiayi produced a three-gold harvest for Federal Territories at the Kuantan Sukma last year.

“It is really a dream come true to make a SEA Games debut at my age, I will do my best in Myanmar but now I would like to concentrate on doing well in the Asian Diving Cup first,” said the 14-year-old, who cannot wait to compete in Singapore. It will be only her second competition of the year.

Dhabitah made an impressive debut at the United States Fina Grand Prix in Fort Lauderdale in May and only missed out on making the women’s 10m platform semi-finals after finishing 14th in the preliminaries.

She did not qualify to compete in both the Asian Youth Games this year and World Junior Diving Championships in Australia last year as she was just below the age limit.

But she is certainly the diver to watch as she is able to execute a 207C (back 3.5 somersault tuck), carrying a high degree of difficulty at 3.3.

Besides Zhiayi and Dhabitah, the other divers who will be heading to Singapore for the Asian Diving Cup are Traisy, Ling Kar, Jasmine Lai and Adeline Chin, while Muhd Nazreen Abdullah and Muhd Danial Sabri, Dhabitah’s elder brother, make up the boys’ team.