By KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has congratulated Sarawakian-born national diving queen Datuk Pandelela Rinong.
She won a bronze medal in the women’s 10 metre (m) platform at the 2022 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, today.
Abang Johari’s message was uploaded by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS) Facebook page earlier.
Similarly, Federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri also said she was proud with the national diver’s feat.
“My heartiest congratulations to Pandelela Rinong for winning the bronze medal or the FINA world championships in Budapest, Hungary. We are all very proud of you,” Nancy who is Batang Sadong MP added.
Pandelela’s success sees her equal her previous achievement at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia, and better her performance at the 2019 edition in Gwangju, South Korea, where she finished fifth.
In today’s final, which took place at Duna Arena, the 29-year-old collected 338.85 points from a total of five dives to ensure her podium position.
Sixteen-year-old 2019 world champion and Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist Chen Yuxi of China bagged the gold medal after collecting 417.25 points, while her 15-year-old compatriot and Tokyo gold medallist Quan Hongchan took home silver with 416.95 points.
Pandelela, who won gold at the 2021 World Cup in Tokyo, is the most senior athlete in the women’s 10m platform event in Budapest.
She will compete in the women’s 10m platform synchronised event with partner Nur Dhabitah Sabri this Thursday in an effort to defend the silver medal she won previously with Leong Mun Yee in 2019.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s challenge in the men’s 3m springboard event ended in the qualifying round after Syafiq Puteh and Chew Yiwei finished 35th and 51st out of 55 divers.
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