GLASGOW: MALAYSIA'S decision to stick with World Cup silver medallists Leong Mun Yee-Cheong Jun Hoong failed to pay off as the duo finished fourth while Pandelela Rinong-Nur Dhabitah Sabri came from behind to win the Commonwealth Games bronze at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh today.
With Pandelela still recovering from a knee injury, the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) had felt it would be better to stick with a winning combination but Mun Yee-Jun Hoong made crucial errors in their final two dives as they fell from a potential silver-medal winning position to fourth.
Pandelela-Nur Dhabitah, on their other hand, fought back from being out of the running for medals to win bronze.
"I didn't expect to win a medal as we had only trained as a combination for three days prior to the Games. The bronze in a bonus and I am now motivated to win the gold in the individual event," said Pandelela.
Pandelela-Nur Dhabitah scored a total 300.12 from their five dives for the bronze while Mun Yee-Jun Hoong, who needed a strong final effort to win the gold, could only garner 64.32 to fall to fourth with a 298.92 total.
Gold went to Canada's Meaghan Benfeito-Roseline Filion (310.65) and the silver to England's Sarah Barrow-Tonia Crouch (307.92).
Jun Hoong and Nur Dhabitah had a second chance to win a medal as they were scheduled to compete in the 3m springboard synchro final in the second session. Jun Hoong was paired with Loh Zhiayi and Nur Dhabitah with Ng Yan Yee.
Ooi Tze Liang advanced to the 1m springboard final, which was also scheduled for the second session.
In badminton, Chong Wei Feng opened his bid for the singles gold with a 21-13, 21-10 win over Buwaneka Dullewa of Sri Lanka in a second round tie. Wei Feng had received a bye in the first round.
Liew Daren was also through to the last 16 with a 21-14, 21-16 triumph over Daniel Sam of Ghana.
In squash, Nicol David-Low Wee Wern fell 11-8, 11-5 to India's Dipika Pallikal-Joshana Chinappa while Rachel Arnold-Vanessa Raj got the better of Kimberley Borg-Collette Sultana of Malta 11-7, 11-7.
Nicol-Wee Wern can still advance to the medals rounds as they opened their campaign late on Tuesday with a 7-11, 12-10, 11-6 win over Megan Craig-Kylie Lindsay of New Zealand.
In women's hockey, Malaysia drew with Wales, a result which meant they were sure of bettering their 2010 finish of 10th as they qualified for the seventh-eighth playoff against Canada.