PETALING JAYA, March 4 — It was a perfect birthday present for Pandelela Rinong as she and Cheong Jun Hoong won a silver medal in the 10m syncronised event at the first leg of the World Series in Beijing yesterday.
Their victory comes a week after male divers Ahmad Amsyar Azman-Chew Yiwei took bronze in the 3m syncronised event at the German Grand Prix.
The World Series Beijing which ends tomorrow, is the first tournament of the year for the women.
Wendy Ng Yan Yee and Nur Dhabitah Sabri, who was named Best Young Athlete by the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia yesterday, are also competing in Beijing.
“We did expect a medal from Pandelela and Jun Hoong as they won a silver in the Olympics.
“However, our major meets this year are the World Championships in Budapest (July 16 to 30) and SEA Games (Aug19 to 31),” said coach Yang Zhuliang.
Pandelela-Jun Hoong scored 316.08 to finish behind tradition rivals Chang Yani-Ren Qian of China who scored 340.26 points.
North Koreans Kim Kuk hyang-Kim Mi-rae scored 313.92 to finish third.
Rio Olympic finalist Wendy and rising star Dhabitah finished sixth in the 3m synchronised event.
Wendy will compete in the 3m springboard individual today.
After Beijing, the divers will proceed to the second leg in Guangzhou, China, from March 9 to 11.
The third leg is in Kazan, Russia, from March 31 to April 2.
Canada’s Windsor will stage the fourth leg from April 21 to 23.
Malaysia bagged two bronzes through Pandelela-Leong Mun Yee in the 10m platform synchronised in the Beijing and Kazan legs last season.
