KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Aquatics' technical diving director Bryan Nickson Lomas is satisfied with the performances of Malaysians at the World Junior Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Seven Malaysian divers — five men and two women — made 10 finals and recorded top 10 finishes in five events.
This was highlighted by Nurqayyum Nazmi Nazim's creditable bronze in the 3m springboard, a first medal for the country in 18 years.
The last Malaysians to win a medal at this level were Elizabeth Jimi and Bryan, who won gold and bronze respectively, in 2006 in Kuala Lumpur.
Bryan said the junior divers' performance at this year's championships was better than the 2022 edition in Montreal, Canada.
"We have more athletes entering the final this time compared to two years ago. Nurqayyum's bronze made the whole team very proud," he added.
In Montreal, Malaysia were represented by the same number of divers, but managed only three final appearances. Jared Aiden Harold and Elvis Priestly Clement were the best performers with a fifth place finish in the synchronised 10m platform event.
Yesterday, Malaysia concluded their campaign with Nurul Farisya Alia Affendi and Lutfir Rahman Razak taking part in the girls' 10m platform and boys' 1m springboard events.
Farisya, 15, qualified for the final in eighth place and went on to finish in the same position in the final, recording scores of 50.40, 58.50 and 52.00 for a total of 301.10 points.
Sarawak state diver Lutfir, 15, scraped into the final in 12th position, and went on to improve by posting 48.30, 58.50, 31.00 and 46.80 for a total of 361.15 to finish ninth. He finished 11th in the 3m springboard on Friday.
"Farisya was quite consistent, but the quality of her dives was not the best, so she couldn't improve her position.
"Lutfir did well in this world juniors, he qualified for two finals," Bryan added.