Some of the world’s best divers vied for top honours in the FINA World Diving Grand Prix at the Sarawak Aquatic Centre in Kuching, Malaysia, this weekend from October 21-23.
Earning the first gold medal of the competition for her country, Malaysian Olympian Ng Yan Yee collected a strong 338.25 points from five dives in the women’s 3m springboard on second day.
Ng Yan Yee defeated China’s Wang Han (333.60, silver) and Huang Xiaohui (322.30, bronze) who completed the podium. Her victory made her become the third Malaysian to earn a gold medal at a FINA Diving Grand Prix, with Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun Hoong having previously won gold in the circuit.
Lian Jie of China, the dominant force throughout the weekend in Kuching, excelled in the 10m platform event with 302.65 points. She was followed by Xia Bingqing (CHN) and nation’s favourite Loh Zhiayi.
Xie Siyi (CHN) collected a total of 479.15 points for his dives in the men’s 3m and naturally grabbed the title at stake. Compatriot Peng Jianfeng came second with 421.45 points, while Australia’s Kevin Chavez rounded out the podium with 397.65 points.
The countries taking part in the event were China with the biggest contingent of 12 divers, followed by host Malaysia with 10 divers, US (6), Canada (5), Australia (4), and two each from Singapore, Hong Kong and Russia.
Check out RESULTS HERE or HERE
The competition resumes on October 27 in Gold Coast (AUS) for the seventh and penultimate leg of the FINA Diving Grand Prix 2016, and will conclude on November 4-6 in Singapore.
Medallists in Kuching
Men
3m springboard: 1. Xie Siyi (CHN) 479.15; 2. Peng Jianfeng (CHN) 421.45; 3. Kevin Chavez (AUS) 397.65
10m platform: 1. Yang Hao (CHN) 546.70; 2. Yang Jian (CHN) 511.70; 3. Jordon Windle (USA) 353.05
3m synchro: 1. Xie Siyi/Huang Bowen (CHN) 415.20; 2. Chew Yiwei/Ooi Tze Liang (MAS) 394.71
10m synchro: 1. Yang Hao/Xu Zewei (CHN) 426.54; 2. Aleksandr Belevtsev/Aleksandr Bondar (RUS)
Women
3m springboard: 1. Ng Yan Yee (MAS) 338.25; 2. Wang Han (CHN) 333.60; 3. Huang Xiaohui (CHN) 322.30
10m platform: 1. Lian Jie (CHN) 302.65; 2. Xia Bingqing (CHN) 298.25; 3. Loh Zhiayi (MAS) 285.55
3m synchro: 1. Wang Han/Xu Zhihuan (CHN) 320.10; 2. Georgia Sheehan/Jayah Mathews (AUS) 277.20; 3. Caeli McKay/Mia Vallee (CAN) 273.48
10m synchro: 1. Xia Bingqing/Xia Xujie (CHN) 332.34; 2. Delaney Schnell/Tarrin Gilliland (USA) 288.48
2016 FINA Diving Grand Prix calendar
1. Madrid (ESP): January 15-17
2. Rostock (GER): January 29-31
3. San Juan (PUR): March 31-April 3
4. Gatineau (CAN): April 7-10
5. Bolzano (ITA): July 15-17
6. Kuching (MAS): October 21-23
7. Gold Coast (AUS): October 27-30
8. Singapore (SIN): November 4-6
Swimming news courtesy of FINA.