DIVING: Pandelela soaring high

Pandelela Rinong became the second Malaysian diver to qualify for three Olympic events when she and Cheong Jun Hoong earned the country's ninth quota ticket through the 3-metre springboard synchro at the World Cup in London on Saturday.

Coach Yang Zhuliang's gamble in opting for Pandelela-Jun Hoong ahead of the more experienced Leong Mun Yee-Wendy Ng Yan Yee, paid off with a Malaysian pair breaching the 300-point barrier for the first time to secure qualification.

They finished sixth in the final with a 300.90 total. Prior to the event, Pandelela secured Olympic berths in the 10m platform individual and synchro.

China's He Zi and Wu Minxia grabbed the title with 345.30 points ahead of Canada's Jennifer Abel-Emilie Heymans (321.90) and Italy's Tania Cagnotto-Francesca Dallape (317.40).

Pandelela-Jun Hoong's success meant that the national team have earned three quota spots in synchro disciplines for the first time in Olympic history, where Malaysia will be the only Asian country apart from China to compete in this category.

Bryan Nickson Lomas-Huang Qiang took bronze en route to earning an Olympic berth in the men's 3m springboard synchro followed by Pandelela and Leong Mun Yee in the women's 10m platform synchro.

Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia secretary Edwin Chong said yesterday: "We tried out a new combination (Pandelela-Jun Hoong) as we felt that Mun Yee-Wendy (Asian Games silver medallists) were not on form of late.

"It is a great achievement for Malaysian diving as we have divers in three of the four synchro events at the Olympics."

Ooi Tze Liang and Wendy were due to compete in the men's 10m platform and women's 3m springboard individual disciplines yesterday.

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