PETALING JAYA, March 12 — National divers Pandelela Rinong and Leong Mun Yee kick-started their World Series campaign in Beijing with a bronze medal in the 10m synchro yesterday.
The pair finished third on 311.70 points behind China’s Liu Huixia-Si Yajie (334.68) and Britain’s Tonia Couch-Lois Toulson (317.46).
“We’re satisfied with the bronze and I just want to enjoy my partnership with Mun Yee,” said Pandelela, who turned 23 last Wednesday.
The World Series only features the top seven divers in the individual and synchro events from last year’s World Championships in Kazan.
Pandelela-Mun Yee made the World Series after finishing seventh in Kazan.
The three other legs of the series will be in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (March 17-19) followed by Windsor, Canada (April 15-17) and Kazan, Russia (April 22-24).
Pandelela, who is also competing in the 10m individual platform tomorrow, is hoping to continue the good work with Mun Yee, especially with the latter missing out on the Rio Olympics.
Mun Yee’s chances to compete in Rio will come only if one of her teammates is injured and Cheong Jun Hoong has been pencilled to partner Pandelela in the 10m synchro at the Olympics.
When asked if she is ready to compete with a new partner in Brazil, Pandelela said: “I’m not thinking about the Olympics. I’m focused on improving my dives at the World Series.”
Another diver Wendy Ng Yan Yee will compete in the individual 3m springboard today.
The three-day competition wraps up tomorrow.
