Tze Liang Fails To Make The Cut For The Olympics

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s hopes of having full representation in the individual disciplines for diving at the London Olympics were dashed when platform diver Ooi Tze Liang failed to make the cut.

Amateur Swimming Union Malaysia secretary Edwin Chong said only Wendy Ng Yan Yee’s name was on the provisional list of divers who have been offered additional slots through the dive-offs at the Diving World Cup in London last month.

“Tze Liang’s name was not on the list for the men’s 10m platform after the dive-off but Wendy’s name is there for the women’s 3m springboard.

Tze Liang and Wendy can still qualify for the Olympics

PETALING JAYA: Ooi Tze Liang and Wendy Ng Yan Yee hold the key to Malaysia being represented in all the individual diving disciplines for the first time in Olympic history.

Tze Liang failed in his bid to reach the top 18 semi-finals of men’s 10m platform individual at the FINA Diving World Cup in London after finishing 33rd with 363.75 points.

Bryan Nickson Lomas scraped into the semi-finals in 17th position on 423.10 points ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Gleb Galperin of Russia, on 420.90.

But all is not lost for Tze Liang as he can still qualify for the Olympics on merit. He has to go into another dive-off today to fight for the 11 remaining tickets in the men’s platform while Wendy must battle for one of the 14 quota spots still available in the women’s 3m springboard.

Wendy failed in her bid to join Cheong Jun Hoong in the top 18 semi-finals to achieve Olympic qualification after only finishing 41st in the women’s springboard preliminaries on Thursday.

Jun Hoong’s form dropped in the semis and she did not advance to the final after only scoring 255.90 points to finish 18th.

Pandelela Misses Out On A Place In Platform Final

PETALING JAYA: Pandelela Rinong failed to live up to her reputation as the Commonwealth Games women’s 10m platform champion after missing out on a place in the final at the FINA Diving World Cup in London on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old Sarawakian, who finished fifth in the event at the World Championships in Shanghai last year, was only placed 16th with 288.55 points in the semi-finals while team-mate Traisy Vivien Tukiet ended two rungs below with 280.55.

But it’s not Pandelela’s fault as she had been instructed to conserve her energy and to focus on the 10m synchro platform in a bid to qualify for the London Olympics.

Pandelela was to partner Leong Mun Yee in the 10m synchro platform preliminaries yesterday.

Missing the mark: Pandelela Rinong (above and inset) in action during the women’s 10m platform semi–final at the FINA Diving World Cup at the Aquatic Centre in London on Tuesday. – EPA

“Pandelela has already qualified for the Olympics in the individual 10m platform discipline and this is not her main focus,” said Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) secretary Edwin Chong.