KUCHING: Dayang Nursharzyra Awang Nasaruddin and Nur Eilisha Rania Abrar Raj are hoping they won't have to share the RM15,000 incentive promised by the Sarawak state government for winning gold at the Malaysia Games (Sukma).
The Sarawakian duo clinched gold in the women's 3m springboard synchro event today, scoring 212.58 points.
Celeste Qin Lee-Jia Le Ong of the Federal Territories took silver with 205.44 points, while Perak's Cecelia Olivia Christopher Leoneil-Siti Nurul Jannah Malik secured bronze with 190.35 points.
"I hope we don't have to share the prize money because ever since I competed in Sukma, we have never had to share it for synchro events. We hope to receive RM15,000 each," said 19-year-old Eilisha Rania.
The Sarawak state government has promised incentives of RM15,000 for gold, RM5,000 for silver, and RM3,000 for bronze.
It is Eilisha's second gold medal, following her win in the 10m platform synchro event with Nurul Farisya Alia Affendi on Monday.
She also earned a bronze in the platform individual event, bringing her total winnings to RM33,000 — if she doesn't have to share her purse in the synchro events.
Nursharzyra, 17, has three titles to her name — the 1m springboard, 3m springboard mixed synchro and the women's 3m synchro, potentially earning her RM45,000.
The national backup squad member wants to purchase a Proton S70 with the money, saying, "It would help me get to training in Kuala Lumpur."
Eilisha Rania admitted to feeling nervous heading into today's competition, having been away from springboard diving for a long time.
"Our main competition was definitely FT, as their degree of difficulty and dives were identical to ours.
"I was really nervous because I had been focused on the 10m platform and had not participated in the springboard for a long time," she said.
"I just started getting back to training in the 3m springboard in April because my coach said I needed to compete as there was no other option.
"The transition from the platform to the springboard is difficult as the rhythm is so different, and synchronising with another person makes it even tougher.
But I'm grateful that Nursharzyra and I stayed calm to achieve this result today."
In the men's 10m platform individual event, Sarawak's Enrique Maccartney Harold won gold with 409.10 points, while compatriot Elvis Priestley Anak Clement took silver with 390.25 points.
Sabah's Anilrian Normatr Abdullah completed the podium with 330.40 points.