SEA Games: M'sia hit 40-gold medal target

Malaysia have met their target of 40 gold at the SEA Games in Myanmar when the diving pair of Ooi Tze Liang/Muhammad Nazreen Abdullah won the men's 10m synchronised platform event at the Wunna Theikdi Aquatics Centre here Saturday.

With the victory, the pair also stamped Malaysia's mark as a diving powerhouse by sweeping all seven gold in the sport in the competition thus far.

In the event, the two divers were in a class of their own when they collected 386.28 points to overcome their nearest challengers, Andriyan/Adityo Resto Putra of Indonesian who scored 327.51 points from six dives.

The bronze went to Singapore's Lee Timothy Han Kuan/Lee Mark Han Ming with 300.24 points.

When met by reporters, Tze Liang was overjoyed to deliver the gold despite partnering with Muhammad Nazreen for just a week before arriving here.

"We have only trained together for five times and the success is certainly amazing and perhaps best all, it was Malaysia's 40th gold," he said.

In this regard, Muhammad Nazreen said even though he collected two gold in this Games, more had to be done to perfect their dives.

Muhammad Nazreen was paired with Tze Liang in the games after his regular partner, Muhammad Danial Sabri was infected in the ear and was advised to rest at home.

The event concluded Tze Liang's outing in the games with three gold and Muhammad Nazreen with two gold.

Malaysia are holding high hopes for the eighth gold when Nur Dhabi Sabri/Leong Mun Yee turn out for the women's 10m synchronised platform later.