Sarawak duo capture synchronised platform diving gold in style

Young divers from Sarawak proved that the state still had what it takes to produce some of the best divers in the country by sweeping the SUKMA women's synchronised platform gold today.

Eisha Rania Abrial Raja Gopal Francis, 11, partnered Kimberly Bong Qian Ping, 13 to produce a mesmerizing performance that convinced the panel of judges to award the gold medal to the duo in the women's synchronized platform, here today.

In the event which kicked-off at the Aquatic Centre in Petra Jaya, the pair picked up 238.50 points to overcome Sabah's Nur Ain Nadzmi/Nurfazriyanti Jali, who managed 219.18 points for the silver while Selangor's Min Lim/Nur Alya Jazmina Khairul Azhar took the bronze with 206.85 points.

Qian Ping, winner of a silver medal in the same event two years ago in Perlis when she partnered Tracia Irene, said she aspired to become a world-class diver like Pandelela Rinong.

"I have met Pandelela several times...and she always told me, 'never give up'. In today's competition, we just focused on our dives and worked hard to get to this stage," said the Bukit Jalil Sports School (SSBJ) student, who made her third SUKMA appearance.

For Eisha Rania who started diving since she was five, her first appearance in SUKMA would no doubt be a memorable one after picking up the gold medal in her debut.

Meanwhile, in the men's 3m springboard, national diver Chew Yi Wei representing Selangor won the gold with 422.85 points.

Hosts Sarawak picked up the silver and bronze medals through Sylvester Peter Jawa and Carlyse Chan Wee Cheik after collecting 358.80 points and 353.50 points respectively.