KUALA LUMPUR: National diver Ahmad Amsyar Azman showcased a splendid performance to bag gold in the 3m men’s synchronised springboard and silver in the men’s individual 3m Springboard at the FINA Kuala Lumpur Grand Prix today.
The 23 year-old clinched his first international medal in the individual event after collecting 436.10 points behind gold medallist Peng Jian Feng of China who had 476.60 points while Ukraine’s Kolodiy Oleg took the bronze on 428.80points.
Ahmad Amsyar later partnered Chew Yi Wei to claim the gold after recording 371.31 points, sweeping aside China’s Li Yanan/Zhong Yuming and Poland’s Andrzej Rzeszutek/Kacper Lesiak to settle for the silver and bronze with 367.50 and 354.81 points respectively.
Speaking to reporters after the prize presentation, Ahmad Amsyar delightedly said the medal was unexpected as his 2014 Asian Games silver medal winning partner Ooi Tze Liang was replaced by Chew due to injury in the last minute.
“This is my first individual medal in an international competition and I am extremely delighted. I and Chew only managed to train in the morning but managed to win the event. My next assignment will be the Gold Coast Grand Prix in Australia next week,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the women’s 10m platform, another Malaysian diver Cheong Jun Hong missed the podium after managing fourth place after collecting 277.40 points.
Powerhouse China proved their supremacy in the event by claiming the gold and bronze through Wang Yin (382.70 points) and Wang Han (324.30) respectively, while Lois Toulson of Great Britain secured the silver with 347.20 points.
National head coach Yang Zhu Liang said a few elite divers did not participate in the tournament due to injuries following National Sports Institute’s advice.
“Pandelela (Rinong) was injured after training hard for the World Cup...She did not tell me. Yesterday, after training her back was strained and could not move,” he said.
Yang said injured divers, Pandelela, Ooi and Wendy Ng Yan Yee would focus on the 2016 World Cup to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in February. --Bernama