KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 ― National diving queen Pandelela Rinong is satisfied despite failing to snatch the women's 10m platform gold medal from China's Zhang Jiaqi at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur FINA Diving Grand Prix (GP).    

Pandelela who took the silver medal at National Aquatic Centre with 332.40 points was 77.45 points behind the 13-year-old diving rising star.

“This is my first GP and my first GP medal for this year. Even though I lost to the young diver, I am not disappointed as she is a future superstar. I have much to learn and emulate her. 

“I can see the good performances of divers from China and South Korea today and I expect stiffer competition at the Asian Games,” she told the media after the event.

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The event's bronze medal went to Kim Suji of South Korea with 293.10 points.

Pandelela also stressed that her performance had improved compared to the 29th SEA Games in August.

For the women's synchronished 10m platform on Sunday, she will be partnering Leong Mun Yee who is replacing injured Cheong Jun Hoong.

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Meanwhile Zhang who has just joined China’s national diving squad six months ago said she was competing in an international standard championship for the first time.

Zhang who beat 2016 Olympic gold medalist, Ren Qian at the 13th Chinese National Games in the 10m platform said she did not want to think far and just wanted to start from the bottom first.

“I am not thinking far such as the Olympics or World Cup at the moment,” she said. ― Bernama