Pandelela On Ccourse For Another Medal In Edinburgh

In-form: Pandelela Rinong scored a total of 366.90 points in the women’s individual 10m platform preliminaries at the third leg of the FINA Diving World Series in Edinburgh, Scotland, yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia could achieve their best-ever outing in the FINA Diving World Series after Pandelela Rinong raised hopes of another medal finish with a strong performance in the women’s individual 10m platform preliminaries at the third leg in Edinburgh, Scotland, yesterday.

The London Olympic bronze medallist confidently strode into the final after winning semi-final B.

The 20-year-old Sarawakian, the two-time national Sportswoman of the Year, performed well in all her five attempts to garner 366.90 points. It was her highest score since she returned to action this year.

Russia’s Yulia Koltunova (349.55) and Mexico’s Alejandra Orozco (339.25) made up the top three standings to advance to the top-six final.

China’s second stringers Liu Huixia (373.50) and Si Yajie (371.05) finished first and second respectively in semi-final A. Also making the final six is Britain’s Tonia Couch (356.00). Olympic silver medallist Brittany Broben of Australia exited the competition after finishing last with 327.45 points.

If Pandelela can improve further on her performance, she may even stand a chance of grabbing her first-ever gold in the series as reigning Olympic and world champion Chen Ruolin of China and Meaghan Benfeito of Canada are not competing. Ruolin and Benfeito were the gold and silver medallist respectively in the first two legs in Beijing and Dubai last month.

Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia secretary Edwin Chong said Pandelela should be able to win her second medal in Edinburgh.

Pandelela partnered Leong Mun Yee to win the silver in the 10m platform synchro on Friday. Malaysia earned their second medal after Cheong Jun Hoong-Wendy Ng Yan Yee clinched the bronze in the 3m springboard synchro.

“Pandelela won a bronze in Beijing but she finished fifth in Dubai. We hope she can finish well on the podium this time as it will be a good reflection of her chances in the World Championships in Barcelona in July.

“The Chinese divers have always dominated the platform event in the series and we hope for a major breakthrough,” said Edwin.

One Bad Dive Foils Malaysians’ Medal Bid

PETALING JAYA: One less-than-perfect dive was all it took to spoil Pandelela Rinong-Leong Mun Yee’s chances of mounting the podium for the second straight week in the women’s 10m platform synchro final at the FINA Diving World Series in Beijing.

Pandelela-Mun Yee (322.14 points) missed out on the bronze medal by a mere 4.26 points as Canadians Roseline Filion-Meaghan Benfeito finished with 326.40 points to take the third spot after the fifth and final dive.

Pandelela Overcomes Back Pain To Finish Third Behind Top Chinese Divers

PETALING JAYA: Pandelela Rinong was not in the best of conditions but still managed to put up a gritty show to claim bronze in the women’s 10m platform individual final in the second leg of the FINA Diving World Series in Beijing.

Pandelela made heads turn for the second week in a row as she fought back to overtake Mexican Paola Espinosa, the 2009 world champion, for the bronze in the last two dives.

It was the second individual bronze medal for Pandelela, having bagged the first in the first leg in Dubai last week.

The 19-year-old Malaysian was in fourth position behind the Mexican after the first three attempts and it looked like a medal was out of her reach.

Good job: Pandelela Rinong (right) stands tall with her bronze medal alongside China’s Chen Ruolin (centre), who won the gold medal, and silver medallist Hu Yadan after the women’s 10m platform final in the second leg of the FINA Diving World Series in Beijing yesterday. — CHOW HOW BAN/The Star

But she pulled off a stunner – making a clean entry – in the next dive to earn 84.80 and get back in medal contention.

Pandelela Not In Peak Condition To Excel In Beijing

PETALING JAYA: Diver Pandelela Rinong’s back injury has flared up again and could hinder Malaysia’s chances of making another impact in the FINA Diving World Series in Beijing starting today.

Pandelela and Leong Mun Yee are the only Malaysians to qualify for the prestigious four-leg series and flew straight to Beijing after a hugely successful outing in the opener in Dubai last weekend.

Only the top eight divers and the top ranked seven pairs based on the world rankings are invited to compete in the series, which offers prize money.

Divers Pandelela And Mun Yee Eyeing Another Medal In Beijing

KUALA LUMPUR: Divers Pandelela Rinong and Leong Mun Yee aim to keep the Malaysian flag flying in the second leg of the FINA Diving World Series in Beijing starting tomorrow.

The duo, who are the only Malaysians to qualify for the prestigious four-leg series, flew straight to Beijing after a hugely successful outing in the opener in Dubai over the weekend.

Only the top eight divers and the top ranked seven pairs based on the world rankings are invited to compete in the series, which offers prize money.

Pandelela staged a great comeback to bag a bronze in the 10m platform individual and partnered Mun Yee to a silver in the synchro the following day.

Calm before the storm: Divers Pandelela Rinong (left) and Leong Mun Yee will be gunning for a medal in the World Series at the Water Cube Aquatic Centre in Beijing starting tomorrow.

Second Podium Finish For Pandelela In FINA Diving World Series

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia enjoyed a new high in the FINA Diving World Series with diver Pandelela Rinong partnering Leong Mun Yee to clinch an impressive silver medal in the women’s 10m platform synchro in the first leg in Dubai.

It was the first time Pandelela mounted the podium twice in the prestigious series for diving as she had taken bronze in the 10m platform individual final on Friday.

And the Malaysian pairing earned their first medal for the season by coming on strongly in the last three dives.

Pandelela Rinong and Leong Mun Yee competing in the 10m platform synchronised during the FINA Diving World Series finals in Dubai yesterday. They won the silver medal. — AFP

Pandelela-Mun Yee did not do well in the first two dives and dropped to fifth out of the seven finalists.

Pandelela Makes Superb Comeback To Clinch Medal In The World Series

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian sensation Pandelela Rinong made a superb comeback to grab bronze in the women’s 10m platform final at the opening leg of the FINA Diving World Series in Dubai.

Pandelela did not impress in the preliminary rounds and just made it to the top six final as the lowest scoring diver with 304.80 points.

But the 19-year-old Sarawakian showed her class in the final and produced two good early dives to go into medal contention.

Pandelela did not execute the first of the three optional dives well and dropped to fourth but she was back in the running after the next attempt.

Pandelela, who dived first, finished off with a 75.20 on the fifth and final dive and the bronze was her’s after Tonia Couch of Britain failed in her bid to overtake the Malaysian’s final tally of 369.75 points.