After C'wealth Triumph OCM Want Another Best-ever at Asiad

Diving sensations: Leong Mun Yee and Pandelela Rinong showing off the silver medals they won in the 10m synchronised platform diving event upon their arrival at the KL International Airport yesterday. Pandelela also won the gold medal in the 10m platform event at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

NEW DELHI: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) are pleased and happy with the national athletes’ achievements at the just-concluded New Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Now, they want to see the Malaysian contingent achieve their best-ever gold medal haul at the Guangzhou Asian Games next month.

Malaysia’s best achievement in the Asiad thus far came at the last Games in Doha with an 8-17-17 medal haul.

OCM secretary general Datuk Sieh Kok Chi yesterday challenged the athletes to come good on the bigger stage.

“This is our best ever Common­wealth Games result. We must now rise to the occasion in Guangzhou to achieve our best-ever gold medal tally in the Asian Games as well,” he said.
The 12-10-14 medal haul in New Delhi not only surpassed the 10-gold medal target, it is also the highest number of gold medals won by Malaysia in a Commonwealth Games.

Out of the 14 sports Malaysia competed in, the athletes won medals in 10 sports.

And of the 10 sports that delivered the medals, six sports won gold medals.

“Only athletics, boxing, hockey and rugby 7s failed to deliver any medal,” said Kok Chi.
He pointed out that Malaysia also won gold medals in three sports – cycling, diving and squash – for the first time at the Games.

“As for shooting and rhythmic gymnastics, our athletes won gold medals after a lapse of 12 years – the last time being at the 1998 KL Commonwealth Games,” he said.

“Archery and table tennis won a medal for the first time in the Commonwealth Games as well. This shows that Malaysia has widen its sports base and its athletes are now performing well in more sports.”

He said the good performances in New Delhi would certainly boost the morale and confidence of the Malaysian contingent ahead of next month’s Asian Games.

Shabery And Fans Greet Heroes At KLIA

SEPANG: The badminton, aquatics, squash and athletics squads returned home from New Delhi yesterday.

But it was the highly-successful shuttlers and young diving sensation Pandelela Rinong who received the loudest applause on arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday.
The squash team returned without gold medallist Nicol David, who will be competing in the Mexico Open (from Oct 18-24). Also absent were Ong Beng Hee, Mohd Azlan Iskandar and Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan, who will be featuring in a tournament in Egypt.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek was at the airport early in the morning to welcome the athletes home and he was especially pleased with Pandelela’s golden debut at the Games.

Officials from the National Sports Council (NSC) and students from the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) were also at the airport to welcome the players home with bouquets of flowers.
The 17-year-old Pandelela created history by winning the first ever gold medal in diving at the Commonwealth Games.

The Bidayuh lass even upstaged world class Australian divers Melissa Wu and Alexandra Croak to win the women’s 10m platform gold medal.

She also won a silver with Leong Mun Yee in the synchronised event.

Pandelela, who only joined the national senior team three years ago, was glad that her hard training paid off.

“I feel really honoured to be congratulated by the Sports Minister, NSC officials and my school teachers and classmates at the airport,” said Pandelela, who will receive a total of RM100,000 from the government as incentive for winning a gold and a silver at the Games.

“I am also happy to be the first diver to win the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games. It is indeed a great achievement for me.

“I will not be taking a break as I will leave for China soon to continue my training for the Guangzhou Asian Games.”

Pandelela will continue her training under Chinese coaches Yang Zhuliang and Huang Xiang.
“My mission now is to win medals at the Asian Games. It will not be easy to strike a gold in the Asiad as China have world class divers. I will be more than happy if I can win a silver in the 10m platform event,” said Pandelela, who will also feature in the 10m platform synchronised event.
For the record, the shuttlers bagged four gold medals through Lee Chong Wei (men’s singles), Koo Kien Kiat-Tan Boon Heong (men’s doubles) and Kien Kiat-Chin Eei Hui (mixed doubles) and the team event.

Pandelela Pulls Out From 3M Springboard Event

NEW DELHI Oct 13 — Pandelela Rinong who clinched a gold medal in the Delhi Commonwealth Games Women”s 10m Platform at the Dr S.P. Mukherjee Aquatics Complex on Monday, pulled out from the 3m Springboard event today.

Press attache to the Malaysian contingent, Mohd Rizal Mohd Radzi said the decision to pull Pandelela out of the event was made following her coach”s advice.

"Her coach Yang Zhuliang made the decision firstly because there is no medal potential for her in the event and secondly because she was not even listed to participate in it in the first place,” he told Bernama.

Another reason given was that the 17-year-old girl from Sarawak, who won silver medals in the women”s 10m platform and 3m springboard at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympics last month, has the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China next month to compete.

"So basically, he is saving her for the Asian Games and does not want her to suffer from any injury,” said Mohd Rizal.

Pandelela, sprained her neck a week before leaving for Singapore and competed though she was not completely fit.

Apart from the gold medal, Pandelela Rinong also won the silver along with her partner, Leong Mun Yee, in the Women”s 10m Synchro Platform.

Pandelela qualified for the final with 255.20 points before pulling out.

The task of getting a medal was then left to Ng Yan Yee to shoulder.

However, Yan Yee failed to match the Australian and Canadian divers who were supreme in the event.

She only managed to finish in eighth spot after accumulating 290.15 points.
Sharleen Stratton of Australia won the gold with 376.00 points, Jennifer Abel of Canada the silver (338.55 points) and another Aussie, Jaele Patrick the bronze (326.15 points). — BERNAMA

Bryan Signs Off With Bronze

Bryan Nickson Lomas performs his routine in the 10m platform final at the SP Mukherjee Aquatic Complex yesterday.

THE presence of the reigning Olympic and world champions brought the best out of Bryan Nickson Lomas as the Malaysian took the 10m platform bronze at the SP Mukherjee Aquatic Complex yesterday.

England's world champion Tom Daley and Australia's Beijing Olympics gold medallist Matthew Mitcham were awesome names in the field but Bryan, who won the 3m synchro springboard bronze with Yeoh Ken Nee on Tuesday, held his own as he denied the rest of the 11-man field.In fact, silver was within reach but Bryan's final dive scored only 72.00, which allowed Mitcham to pull ahead for second place.

The Malaysian, however, can take pride in the fact that his fifth dive, which scored 98.05, was the highest of the night.

"Daley and Mitcham are simply too good but I am proud to have won this medal, especially as this was a really tough field," said Bryan, 20.Bryan scored a total 487.15 for the bronze while Daley was the runaway winner with 538.35. Mitcham scored 509.15 for the silver. Malaysia's other representative Ooi Tze Liang finished seventh with 411.15.

Bryan was third after his first dive but the second dive, which scored a mere 64.35, left him on the backfoot as Daley and Mitcham were consistently scoring in the high 80s.In the end, the difference between them and Bryan was their consistency but with age on his side, the sky is the limit for Bryan and he can look forward to the Asian Games next month with hope.In the women's 3m springboard, Ng Yan Yee finished eighth but for the diving squad, the pool at the SP Mukherjee Aquatic Complex proved lucky for them as they ended their campaign with one gold, one silver and two bronze.

Bryan Reaps Another Bronze Among World-Class Rivals

HIS preparations in the lead-up to the Delhi Games were not all smooth but Bryan Nickson Lomas (pic) can walk tall after claiming the bronze medal in the 10m platform men’s individual event at the Dr S.P. Mukherjee Sports Complex last night.

The bronze was a high quality medal as he finished behind two divers regarded as the best in the high board discipline, reigning world champion Tom Daley of England and reigning Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham of Australia.

The 16-year-old Daley produced an extraordinary performance on his last dive to garner 94.05 to pip Mitcham to clinch his first Commonwealth Games platform gold medal.

Daley finished on 538.35 and Mitcham chalked up 509.15.

The 20-year-old Bryan leapt to bronze medal position after the first two jumps and held on to finish the six-dive routine on 487.15.

He even earned a 98.05 for his fifth dive, which turned out to be the highest ever awarded for the 10m platform discipline.

It was the second medal for Bryan after a bronze medal winning effort too in the 3m springboard synchronised event on Tuesday with Yeoh Ken Nee.

Malaysia will thus leave the diving arena with the distinction of having at least one medal-winning effort in all four days of competition.

The team also achieved a best-ever meal haul of 1-1-2 in Commonwealth Games diving. Malaysia went on the medal board for the first time at the 2006 Melbourne Games with two silvers.

Pandelela Rinong clinched a historic gold medal for Malaysia in the women’s 10m platform and partnered Leong Mun Yee for silver in the 10m platform synchronised event.

And Bryan, who only qualified sixth best for the final, heaved a sigh of relief after accomplishing his target to get a first individual medal at the Commonwealth Games.

“I was not feeling good coming here as I injured my calf muscles during training in China,” he said.

“I was getting better but I was not so confident over whether I can take the strain even though I raised my difficulties. I’m happy to take bronze as the field is like in the world championships.”
At the Melbourne Games, the Sarawakian won silver with James Sandayud in the 10m synchronised event.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Wendy Ng finished eighth in the 3m springboard women’s final on 290.15.

Ministry’s Full Support For Pandelela

GOLDEN MOMENT: Pandelela competes in the women’s 10m platform diving finals at the Dr SP Mukherjee Aquatics Complex in New Delhi on Monday. — AFP photo

KUCHING: The Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry will continue to give Sarawak’s golden girl Pandelela Rinong Pamg its full support, the Minister Dato Sri William Mawan assured yesterday.

“We will go all out to support her. We have decided to give her incentives in recognition of her outstanding achievement,” he said.

Mawan revealed that the ministry would also be looking for deals with international brands to help Pandelela.

Assuring that she would continue to receive the necessary perks, he said Pandelela now ranked among top national athletes like world number ones Datuk Nicol David (squash) and Datuk Lee Chong Wei (badminton) who have secured lucrative endorsement deals through their world-beating feats.

“If we could do the same for Pandelela, it will greatly improve the livelihood of her family as well as inspire budding athletes in Sarawak to follow in her footsteps,” he added.

Clinching Malaysia’s first ever Commonwealth Games diving gold medal in the women 10m platform in New Dehli on Monday, the 17-year-old’s achievement has made her a sporting household name in the country.

Adding a gold medal to the silver she won with Leong Mun Yee in the 10m synchronise event the day before, the plucky Bidayuh lass has shown that with hard work and commitment, success in sports is possible.

Going through intensive training in Kunming, China, before the XIX Commonwealth Games, she took time out to compete in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, diving her way to a silver medal in the 10m platform behind Asian Youth Games gold medallist Liu Jaio of China.
“We’ll monitor her training and performance. Because she is our pride, the ministry will not just sit and watch. We will support her all the way,” Mawan said, adding that Pandelela’s silver medal in Singapore was as good as her Commonwealth Games gold medal.

Meanwhile, Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) director Francis Nyurang Ding said Pandelela’s superb performance showed that MSNS’s development programme was starting to bear fruit.

“We are very happy for her. We always knew she was championship material and she proved that in New Dehli,” he added.

“Not only is the council playing an important role – our athletes’ successes are the cumulative efforts of the coaches, parents and the state government.

“Pandelela represented the country and won the gold medal. Sarawak should be proud of her.”
On money incentives, Francis said: “These will certainly be given to Pandelela but the amount will be further discussed – there is no fixed amount yet.”

Commonwealth Games / Diving: Ken Nee-Bryan Emerge From The Shadows

Bryan Nickson Lomas (left) and Yeoh Ken Nee show off their bronze after the men’s 3m synchro springboard final yesterday.

AFTER having played second fiddle to the women for two consecutive days, it was the turn of the men to deliver a medal as divers Yeoh Ken Nee and Bryan Nickson Lomas took the men's 3m synchro springboard bronze at the Dr SPM Aquatic Complex yesterday.

Bronze was won courtesy of a "gift" from Australia's Scott Robertson-Grant Nel who messed up their fourth dive and allowed the Malaysians to leapfrog them in the race for the medals.Ken Nee-Bryan scored 404.64 points, way off the 430.64 notched by gold medallists Alexandre Despatie-Reuben Ross of Canada. Silver went to Matthew Mitcham-Warren Ethan of Australia with 424.35.

"We were very lucky as the Australians are normally very solid," said Ken Nee, a silver medallist in Melbourne four years ago.

"The moment Robertson's foot hit the springboard, we knew we had a chance but our coach urged us to stay calm and consider the final dive as a training dive. That is exactly what we did and managed to hang on to third place."Ken Nee admitted that while he had targeted a medal, he wasn't overly hopeful, given the opposition.

"The two Australian pairs are very good and so too the Canadians. They are much better than us in this event but we got lucky today (yesterday)."Malaysia's other pair, Muhammad Fakhrul Md Zain-Ahmad Amsyar Azman finished sixth with 388.47 points.In the men's 10m synchro platform, Ooi Tze Liang and Abdul Rashid Muhammad finished bottom in the four-pairs event with 372.30.

Leong Mun Yee, a silver medallist with Pandelela Rinong in the 10m synchro platform on Sunday, could only finish seventh in the women's 1m springboard with 262.10. Cheong Jun Hoong was 10th with 235.80.

Ken Nee, Bryan Team Up To Deliver Bronze

Malaysian divers Bryan Nickson Lomas (left) and Yeoh Ken Nee showing off the bronze medal they won in the men’s 3m springboard synchronised final in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi Tuesday. Theirs was the only medal of the day for Malaysia.

A FOUR-year wait ended for diver Yeoh Ken Nee, who finally earned the medal he missed out on in the men’s 3m springboard synchronised competition at Dr S.P. Mukherjee Stadium last night.
Ken Nee’s one-year-old partnership with Bryan Nickson Lomas paid dividends as the pair bagged the bronze with a score of 404.64.

Luck was also on the Malaysian’s side as Australians Scott Robertson-Grant Nel fumbled in the fourth dive to let the bronze slip away.

Canadians Alexandre Despatie-Reuben Ross took gold on 430.35 ahead of another Australian pair, Matthew Mitcham-Warren Ethan, who chalked up a 424.35.
Ken Nee admitted they were a bit lucky to bag the bronze, which was the only medal for Malaysia on the 10th day of the elhi Games.

“Robertson’s leg hit the board in the fourth dive and our coach just asked us to be clam and execute our last dive like what we have always done in training,” he said.

“We pulled it off well and we managed to hang on to the bronze medal position.”

Ken Nee was the silver medallist in the 1m springboard at the 2006 Melbourne Games. But his outing at the Games them turned out to be bittersweet as a fever put paid to his chances of adding more medals to his collection.

Ken Nee had to pull out of the 3m springboard final the following night when he was in the lead after the second dive.

And he was also forced to withdraw from the 3m springboard synchronised competition, in which he was to partner Rossharisham Roslan then.

It was redemption time for Ken Nee and he was glad to end his Commonwealth Games on a high note after missing out on medals in the individual 1m and 3m springboard events earlier.

“I was aiming for a medal but was not so confident as the Australians and Canadians were much better here. It’s good I also have a medal to show,” he said.

The young Malaysian pair of Mohd Rashid-Ooi Tze Liang found the going too tough in the men’s 10m platform synchronised competition. Only four pairs took part and Rashid-Tze Liang finished last on 372.30.

Leong Mun Yee finished seventh in the women’s 1m springboard final on 262.10.
The second Malaysian finalist, Cheong Jun Hoong, was placed 10th on 235.80.

Malaysia End Day With A Gold, Silver And Bronze

GOLDEN DIVE: Pandelela won gold in the women's 10m platform diving

NEW DELHI: A golden splash in the diving pool by Pandelela Rinong pushed Malaysia's gold medal tally to seven on the eighth day of competitions at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games raising hopes of achieving the ten-gold target.

On a day which saw the Games rocked by a doping scandal, Malaysia laboured to win a gold (diving), a silver and bronze (lawn bowls).

The eighth day got off to a wrong footing for the organisers as the first doping scandal burst onto stage, drawing attention of a vastly critical international media.

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President Mike Fennell revealed that Nigeria's 100m gold medallist Oludamola Osayomi had tested positive for using stimulants and that the second test was underway.

The result of the B sample is expected to be out today, a result that would determine the fate of the gold medal, in the blueribbon event of any major games.

The Nigerian was earlier elevated to the gold medal winner after Australian Sally Pearson was stripped of the gold medal for a false start.

It was a bad start too for the Malaysian camp until Pandelela Rinong bagged a precious gold in the 10m platform diving event, which gave the country the seventh gold.

Hashimah Ismail and Zuraini Khalid added a silver in the women's pairs at the l awn b o w l s arena, losing to England's Ellen Falkner and Amy Monkhouse 2-1 (6-12, 7-5,5-2) in the final.
Yesterday's focus switched to the final sessions of athletics at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, mainly the women's 200m, 800m finals and the men's 10,000 race which was part of the nine gold medals offered, but unfortunately there were no Malaysians in any of the races.

Today, another 20 gold medals will be up for grabs and at least a dozen Malaysians would be vying for glory in their respective events, especially in diving events, as the divers will certainly be boosted by Pandelela's golden outing yesterday.

Malaysia would be looking ahead to win more gold medals from world class lawn bowlers like Siti Zalina and Safuan Said in the individual events, and hope divers and table tennis players could bring home some extra medals.

Pandelela On Cloud Nine After 10m Platform Gold

Malaysia's Pandelela Pamg competes in the women's 10m platform event during the Commonwealth Games at the Dr. S.P. Mukherjee Aquatics Center in New Delhi, India, yesterday.

NEW DELHI Oct 11 — Diver Pandelela Rinong clinched Malaysia”s seventh gold medal of the Commonwealth Games with a sizzling performance in the women”s 10m Platform diving at the Dr S.P. Mukherjee Aquatic Complex here today.

The 17-year-old Sarawakian who had won a silver medal in women”s 10m synchronized diving with Leong Mun Yee yesterday, amassed 371.05 points for the gold.

Her compatriot Traisy Vivien Tukiet, another Sarawakian lass who had won the SUKMA diving gold in Melaka from the 10m platform in June, however could only manage ninth spot with 310.55 points.

Despite the defeat, Traisy was still able to spot a smile when celebrating Pandelela”s victory with other diving officials.

Australian diver Melissa Wu collected the silver while another Aussie, Alexandra Croak took the bronze.

Meanwhile, in the men”s 3m Springboard, Yeoh Ken Nee , Bryan Nickson Lomas, and Muhammad Fakhrul Md Zain managed only a sixth, seventh and 10th place respectively from the 12 divers who competed.

Alexandre Despatie and Rueben Ross from Canada won gold and silver medal while Grant Nel of Australian won bronze.

Diving events continue tomorrow with the men”s 10m Synchro Platform, where Malaysia will be represented by Ooi Tze Liang and Abd Rashid Muhammad.

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Leong Mun Yee and Cheong Jun Hoong will compete in Women”s 1m Springboard while Bryan, Ken Nee, Muhammad Fakhrul and Ahmad Amsyar will take part in the men”s 3M Synchro Springboard. — Bernama

Terjunan Ajaib Pandelela

Pandelela ketika beraksi dalam acara 10 meter platform wanita di Kompleks Sukan Akuatik Dr SP Mukherjee di New Delhi, semalam.

Dua percubaan terakhir ubah skrip awal ciptaan Australia KONTINJEN negara kembali ceria, malam tadi dengan pungutan pingat emas ketujuh dan berterima kasih kepada keringat penerjun muda, Pandelela Rinong yang gah mengungguli acara 10 meter platform wanita di Kompleks Sukan SPM dengan terjunan terakhir yang baik buat melakar sejarah bagi dirinya.

Dua lagi pingat menyusul daripada lawn bowl apabila pasangan negara, Nor Hashimah Ismail dan Zuraini Khalid meraih perak acara pairs wanita selepas tewas kepada England dalam final manakala gangsa daripada pasangan pairs lelaki menerusi Khairul Anuar Abdul Kadir dan Fairul Izwan Abd Muin buat mendekatkan sasaran 10 emas.

Pandedela - anak muda dari Sarawak berusia 17 tahun itu menguntum senyuman dengan wajah matang ketika naik podium untuk melakar sejarah selaku pemenang emas pertama dalam acara terjun Sukan Komanwel selepas merakamkan jumlah keseluruhan 371.05 mata untuk menewaskan penerjun Australia, Melissa Wu (perak) dan Alexandra Croak (gangsa).

“Saya gembira hari ini. Pingat emas ini saya hadiahkan untuk ibu dan ayah tercinta. Satu ketika saya kecewa apabila membuat terjunan kurang baik pada pusingan kedua dan pada saat itu saya hanya terbayang peluang untuk berada dalam kelompok tiga terbaik saja,” kata Pandelela.

“Pada terjunan terakhir, jurulatih kata jangan buat salah. Dia kata jika buat salah, saya tidak akan dapat emas. Apabila saya naik tangga ke platform, saya ingat pesanan jurulatih dan melakukan yang terbaik. Memang cabaran hari ini kuat. Dua penerjun Australia memang hebat.”Jelas kemenangan amat tipis apabila penerjun negara hanya menewaskan lawan terdekat dengan perbezaan perpuluhan 0.60 mata saja selepas Melissa memberi saingan sengit sehingga ke terjunan terakhir dalam acara membabitkan 12 peserta.

Pandelela Gemilang

WIRA NEGARA...gelagat Pandelela bersama pingat emas dimenangi, semalam.


TAHUN 2010 merupakan tahun gemilang buat Pandelela Riong. Selepas memenangi dua pingat perak di Sukan Olimpik Remaja di Singapura dan pingat perak 10 meter platform berpasukan bersama Leong Mun Yee, kelmarin, anak gadis berasal dari Sarawak ini mencipta sejarah memenangi pingat emas pertama dalam acara terjun buat negara, semalam.


Pandelela mencatatkan 371.05 mata untuk memenangi pingat emas, mengatasi Melissa yang mengumpul 369.5 mata dengan hanya 1.55 mata. Seorang lagi peserta Australia, Alexandra Croak memenangi pingat gangsa dengan 355.4 mata.

Apapun, Pandelela menafikan logik akal di Kompleks Akuatik Dr SPM apabila menggunakan terjunan terakhirnya untuk memintas pendahulu sejak awal, Melissa Wu dari Australia selepas pada satu ketika berada di tempat kelima.Kesilapan terjunan kedua yang mencatatkan hanya 58.05 mata bagaimanapun nyaris melenyapkan misi memburu pingat selepas mengungguli pusingan kelayakan di sebelah pagi.

“Saya tak pasti apa yang berlaku tapi tetap yakin mampu bersaing merebut pingat. Bagaimanapun, saya tak sangka berjaya pula merangkul pingat emas,” katanya.Jurulatih, Yang Zhuliang berkata, Pandelela tidak tenang menyebabkan pelaksanaan terjunan agak kekok.

“Biasanya, dia mencatatkan purata 9.5 mata untuk terjunan itu. Namun, saya nasihatkannya supaya tidak menyerah kalah dan terus berusaha kerana sejak awal kami yakin dia berpeluang menang pingat emas,” katanya.Selepas itu Pandelela mempamerkan kematangan untuk merapatkan kedudukan dengan Melissa yang pada satu ketika mendahului 15 mata di depan penerjun negara itu.


Menjelang terjunan terakhir, Melissa hanya mendahului 0.05 mata di depan Pandelela.Tekanan nyata tidak mengganggu tumpuan Pandelela dan berjaya mencatat 81.6 mata berbanding Melissa yang mencatatkan 80 mata.

“Saya agak gementar sebelum terjunan terakhir tapi memilih menurut nasihat jurulatih untuk menumpukan perhatian pada terjunan peribadi dan mengetepikan pencapaian lawan.“Sebaik sahaja mencecah ke air, segala keraguan lenyap dan saya percaya pingat emas milik saya dan ia disahkan markah yang diberikan juri.Pingat emas ini saya dedikasi kepada ibu, ayah dan keluarga yang sentiasa memberi galakan dan sokongan serta jurulatih yang tidak pernah putus memberi nasihat,” katanya lagi.Seorang lagi peserta negara, Traisy Vivien Tukiet, 16, menamatkan saingan di tempat kesembilan dengan 310.65 mata.

Magnificent Pandelela

Pandelela Rinong performs her routine in the 10m platform yesterday. Pandelela scored 371.05 points to win gold.

THE Negaraku was played for the first time ever at a Commonwealth Games aquatics venue yesterday and Malaysia had the impish Pandelela Rinong to thank for.

The 16-year-old, who has shown so much promise, proved that the faith in her was justified with a magnificent win in the 10m platform, a result which pushed the world class Australians into second and third place.

It was also the end of the bridesmaid's tag for Pandelela, who had won two silver in the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore and in the Commonwealth Games, and was runner-up with Leong Mun Yee in the 10m platform synchro silver on Sunday.

Her gold was delivered in stunning style as Pandelela, just like she and Mun Yee needed on Sunday, had to produce a superb dive to pip Australian Melissa Wu to the gold and that is exactly what she did.

"I dedicate this gold medal to my parents for the support they have given me," said Pandelela.It was a triumph which had not looked possible after her second dive, which gave her a mere 58.05 points after opening with a 79.50.

If her first dive had given her a four-point lead over Melissa, the second saw her dropping to fourth. "I felt a little frustrated as after my first dive, I thought I had a chance of winning gold but the second dive kind of spoilt it."But Pandelela displayed maturity beyond her years as she pulled herself together.

"I told myself to just focus on my remaining dives as I still had a chance for a medal finish and that was very important."She also kept reminding herself that she had beaten the Australian in last year's world championships, where Pandelela finished fifth and Melissa sixth.That saw her edging closer and closer to Melissa and when Pandelela, who was the last to dive by virtue of finishing qualifying as the top ranked diver, made her way to the platform, her coach's advise was ringing in her ears.

"He told me to think only of a perfect dive and nothing else. The Australian was still in the lead but if I executed my final dive perfectly, the gold would be mine."Which she did and the judges rewarded her with 81.60, the highest scoring dive of the night, and gold was won by the slimmest of margins as Pandelela's final score was 371.05 while Melissa had 369.50. Bronze was won by another Australian, Alexandra Croak.

Malaysia's challenge in the men's 3m springboard ended with Yeoh Ken Nee the best finisher in sixth place with 422.30 points. Bryan Nickson Lomas was seventh (419.30) while Muhd Fakhrul Md Zain (381.50) was 10th.That didn't matter though and as Pandelela took her medal march, the impish smile was firmly on her face and her thoughts were with her parents but she had done the whole of Malaysia proud.

First-ever Commonwealth Games Diving Gold Medal For Malaysia

PANDELELA Rinong knew her destiny was in her hands as she stepped up to make her final plunge, knowing that she needed to score at least 80.05 to create one of the biggest upsets in Commonwealth Games diving history.
And a cool Pandelela rose to the occasion, barely caused a ripple as she plunged into the pool to win a first-ever diving gold medal for Malaysia in the Games series at the Dr S.P. Mukherjee Stadium last night.

Pandelela broke into smiles after she glanced at the scoreboard and knew the women’s 10m platform gold was for her as she flashed a victory sign.

She was rewarded with a 81.60 to overcome the 0.5 deficit with a total of 371.05 to clinch the seventh gold medal for Malaysia in the Delhi Games.

Melissa Wu, the 2008 Beijing Olympics silver medallist and gold medallist in the 10m platform synchronised event on Sunday, was the leader going into the final dive but she had to settle for silver on 369.50. The bronze went to another Australian, Alexandra Croak, on 355.40.

Pandelela had raised hopes that she could be the one to break the dominance of Australia, England and Canada in Commonwealth Games diving after making it to the final as the top qualifier.

She was expecting stiff competition in the final but to her credit gave a determined performance when the chips were down.

“I was about 15 points adrift after the second dive and I was not confident of a gold then,” said the 17-year-old Bidayuh lass, who hails from Bau, a small town near Kuching.

“But I was not about to give up. I always listen to my coach’s advice on not to give up. I did well in the last two dives. I knew I had won the competition after I came out of the water in the last attempt.”

Pandelela’s confidence was also in place as she finished better than Melissa en route to taking fifth place in the world championships in Rome last year.

It is Pandelela’s second medal in her debut Games appearance after taking silver with Leong Mun Yee in the 10m platform synchronised discipline on Sunday.

Yeoh Ken Nee failed to grab a first medal in the Delhi Games, finishing sixth in the men’s 3m springboard final in which Beijing Olympic silver medallist Alexandre Despatie led Reuben Ross to a 1-2 for Canada.

Ken Nee scored 422.30, just ahead of compatriot Bryan Nickson Lomas, who chalked up 419.30. The third Malaysian finalist, Mohd Fakhrul, was placed 10th on 381.50.

It was the second gold medal won by Despatie after coming out tops in the 1m springboard final on Sunday.

Gold Trail Grinds To A Halt For Malaysians

SILVER DIVERS: Pandelela (above) and Mun Yee compete in the Final of Women's 10m Synchro Platform diving

NEW DELHI: Malaysia's gold trail came to a grinding halt on day seven when the Malaysian contingent added just two silver and one bronze on a lull yesterday which saw Australia continue their domination.

The day started with a silver medal from Nur Ayuni and a bronze from Nur Suryani Muhamad Taibi in the women's 10m Air Rifle individual competition.

In the evening, Leong Mun Yee and Pandelela Rinong plucked a silver from the diving pool when the duo put up a splendid performance in the 10m platform synchronised diving.

It was also a day of near misses for Malaysians as they allowed a number of medals to slip through their grasp, especially when redhot favourite Nur Suryani Taibi could only manage a bronze while her partner Nur Ayuni missed the gold by two points to a Singaporean shooter.
Likewise, the much-expected archers failed to reap any medal — the men and women individual recurve archers failing in the process.

Archer S. Anbarasi missed a medal in the women's individual recurve event in the morning, so did Hasli Izwan in the 25m centrefire pistol individual event.

All in all, Malaysians lost a chance to bite into the slice of 42 gold medals offered yesterday.
"It was a lull. But overall it was an okay day, we managed to win some medals though we expected more from other sports. We hope the next few days will bring in more medals," Malaysian chef-de-mission Tan Sri Abdul Halil Abd Mutalif said.

Today, Malaysian athletes would take part in at least eight finals in their respective sports — mainly in diving, shooting and lawn bowls — where another 15 gold medals are up for grabs.
But while sporting action continued in the field and stadiums, controversies hogged the limelight outside the arenas.

Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell acknowledged that the Delhi games was progressing swiftly, without a single event being cancelled or postponed, but other pressing issues still disturbed the organisers.

Complaints of sports fans failing to buy tickets but syndicates in Delhi selling tickets on the black market had surfaced, prompting organisers to take stern action.

"We don't condone such acts, we have lodged a report with the police and monitoring the situation," warned Delhi Games Organising Chairman Suresh Kalmadi.

Commonwealth Games / Swimming: Swimmers Return With Loads Of Experience

ONE final appearance, five national records and a qualifier for the World Championships is how the Commonwealth Games statistics read for the national swimming squad.

There were no medals but for national coach Paul Birmingham, New Delhi can be deemed a success considering the difficulties the squad faced throughout the competition. "I admit that I expected faster times from certain swimmers but I have to say that this was easily the toughest competition many of them have experienced," said Birmingham yesterday.

He was not only talking about the world class opposition that Australia, England and South Africa offered but also the challenge the swimmers faced with the schedule and health.

"It was 16-hour days throughout the competition as we had to get up at 5am and travel two hours to the venue and we had to repeat this in the evenings and this took a toll on the swimmers. "There were also health issues as some had the flu while others went down with food poisoning. This was experienced by almost all the swimming teams and I can confidently say that for the others, this was also a tough meet."

But there was a silver lining and Birmingham said the five national records were satisfying considering the challenge the swimmers faced. "Chui Lai Kwan also qualified for the World Championships and that was a job well done." Lai Kwan also improved the national 50m freestyle record to 26.03s and was the only Malaysian to make an individual final.

The others who set new national marks were Christina Loh in the women's 50m breaststroke (33.39), Chan Kah Yan (50m backstroke -- 30.19), Yap See Tuan (men's 50m breaststroke -- 29.78) and Ian James Barr (200m IM -- 2:07.22). One swimmer who didn't enjoy the New Delhi experience was Daniel Bego and Birmingham said this was expected considering that he only had 12 weeks of training coming into the Games. "Many have questioned why Daniel took six months off (to concentrate on his studies) but this is a break he needed. We have to remember that he has been training non-stop for years and he simply needed a break.

"We want him for the London Olympics in 2012 and he will need six months of hardwork to get back his form." Hardwork is also something Birmingham expects from those who didn't do as well as expected. "The swimmers (who didn't perform) have been told and it is now up to them to start working, especially if they are serious about their careers." It will basically be the same squad for the Asian Games and Birmingham admitted that medals will be out of reach. "Japan and China are going to dominate the top four positions in most of the events and what I can hope for from my swimmers are new national records."

Commonwealth Games / Diving: Duo Shine With Silver

Pandelela Rinong (left) and Leong Mun Yee in action in the 10m synchro platform .yesterday.

LEONG Mun Yee ended a 12-year wait spanning four Commonwealth Games after she and partner Pandelela Rinong saved their best for last to clinch the 10m synchro platform silver at the Dr SPM Aquatic Complex yesterday.

It was Malaysia's first Commonwealth Games diving medal in the women's category and both divers were filled with joy, especially as they were lying fourth after three dives and in danger of being upstaged by younger teammates Cheong Jun Hoong and Traisy Vivien Tukiet, who were second.But the third dive, which Mun Yee said is their secret weapon, took them to second place behind Australia's Olympic silver medallists Melissa Wu and Alexandra Croak while Jun Hoong-Traisy finished fifth.

"We were confident that we would be able to place ourselves in the medal places as we have been working on this dive in training," said Mun Yee.

The three and a half somersault pike was so well executed that the Malaysians scored 82.56, the only dive of the evening that breached the 80-point mark.The Malaysians scored a total 328.38 points for the silver to the Australians 335.76. Australia also took the bronze through Briony Cole and Anabelle Smith.

Pandelela said errors in the earlier dives probably cost them the gold."The scoring by the judges was also a little questionable as well as the Australians seemed to get some high marks despite not doing too well in the earlier dives," said Pandelela.Still, it has been a good year for Pandelela, who won two silver at the Youth Olympics in Singapore and has now added the Commonwealth medal.

She has the 10m platform today while Mun Yee will be competing in the 1m and 3m individual springboard events.Mun Yee, partnering youngster Ng Yan Yee, didn't fare well in the 3m synchronised springboard as they finished last in the six-pair event.Gold medallists in last year's Laos Sea Games, the Malaysians could only score 260.04 points.Yeoh Ken Nee also had to bow to the emergence of younger divers as he relinquished the men's 1m springboard silver he won in Melbourne four years ago. Ken Nee finished fourth with 400.10 points.Bryan Nickson Lomas was seventh, scoring 370.80 points while Muhammad Fakhrul Md Zain finished 11th with 260.04.

Mun Yee-Pandelela Bag Silver With Near Perfect Final Plunge

DIVERS Leong Mun Yee-Pandelela Rinong soared on a magnificent final plunge to nail a silver medal in the women’s 10m platform synchronised event at the Dr S.P. Mukherjee Sports Complex last night.

However, the first-ever medal for Malaysia in Commonwealth Games women’s diving almost did not materialise as Mun Yee-Pandelela were lying in fifth position with two more dives to go.
But the duo moved into medal contention after the fourth attempt and confirmed their place in the history books with a near-perfect final dive, which earned them 82.56.

It was the highest score on the board in the competition last night and elevated them to second place on a total of 328.38.

Australia’s Olympic silver medallists Melissa Wu-Alexandra Croak led from start till the end to secure gold on 335.76. Australia also grabbed the bronze through Briony Cole-Sarah Barrow, who chalked up 319.68.

Malaysians Cheong Jun Hoong-Traisy Vivien fell out of a podium finish. They were in second spot with two remaining dives but failed to hold on and settled for fifth on 316.38.

Mun Yee felt that they let slip the chance to win the gold medal with a poor start.

“We did not do that well in the first two dives and we slipped. Otherwise, we would have done better,” said 25-year-old, who was competing in her fourth Commonwealth Games.

“But going into the final dive, we were confident that a medal was ours as we have pulled it off well in practice.”

Pandelela, the winner of two silver medals in the Youth Olympics in Singapore in August, was happy to have made a medal-winning debut in the Commonwealth Games.

“It will give me the confidence to do well in my remaining events. I will try my best as we are competing with top divers here,” said the 16-year-old, who will dive in the 10m platform individual today.

In the women’s 3m springboard synchronised event yesterday morning, Mun Yee partnered Wendy Ng for sixth place.

Yeoh Ken Nee, the silver medallist at the 2006 Melbourne Games, settled for fourth place in the 1m springboard.

He chalked up 385.70 points behind Canadian Ross Reuben, who took bronze on 400.10. Fellow Malaysian Bryan Nickson was placed seventh on 370.80. Bryan had qualified just ahead of Ken Nee for the top 12 final earlier in sixth place.

Olympic silver medallist Alexandre Despatie of Canada successfully defended his 1m springboard title with a score of 468.15. Matthew Mitcham of Australia, the 10m platform gold medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, settled for silver on 441.