China's Jianfeng, Wang Han out to dominate at KL's Diving GP

KUALA LUMPUR: China, the undisputed world champions, are aiming for total domination in the Kuala Lumpur leg of the Diving Grand Prix, which starts on Friday, at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil.

World champions Peng Jianfeng and Wang Han will both lead the China team who are also using the tournament to unleash their up-and-coming divers for next year’s assignments.

Jianfeng, who won the gold medal in the men's 1m springboard at the World Championships in Budapest in July, will be the favourite in the 3m springboard individual event.

The 23-year-old will partner Liu Chengming for the 3m springboard synchro event where Ooi Tze Liang-Ahmad Amsyar Azman will carry Malaysia’s challenge.

As for Wang Han, the 26-year-old is expected to dominate the women's 3m springboard event.

Wang Han won a gold with Li Zheng in the mixed 3m springboard synchro and a silver in the 3m springboard individual behind compatriot Shi Tingmao at the world meet in Budapest.

Malaysia’s Nur Dhabitah Sabri and Jasmine Lai will challenge Wang Han in the 3m springboard individual discipline. Dhabitah will also pair up with Kimberly Bong for the 3m springboard synchro.

Cheong Jun Hoong will not compete in the 10m platform individual discipline, the event she won at the world meet, due to a lower back injury. Instead, the 27-year-old will partner Jellson Jabillin in the platform mixed team event.

Two-time Olympic medallist Pandelela Rinong and Kimberly are Malaysia’s representatives in the 10m platform individual event.

However, Pandelela will find it tough to fight for the top of the podium as the Sarawakian will have to contend with Chinese youngsters Zhang Jiaqi and Zhang Minjie.

Jiaqi and Minjie will also pair up in the 10m platform synchro event where they are expected to challenge Pandelela-Leong Mun Yee for the gold medal.

"Jiaqi and Minjie are only 13 years old and they will be the divers to watch in the future.

"Jiaqi upset Olympic and world champion divers to win the 10m platform individual title at the China National Games in Beijing in May.

"They could have easily won the platform individual and synchro world titles in Budapest. However, they could not compete in it due to the age limit set by FINA (minimum age of 14)," said national coach Yang Zhuliang on Wednesday.

Youngsters Hanis Nazirul Jayasurya, Jellson and Syahmi Mohd Rezal are all using the KL GP for exposure ahead of next year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and Indonesia Asian Games.

The other countries competing in KL are South Korea, Japan, Britain, Australia, Switzerland, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia.