AQUATICS

Cheong Jun Hoong will spearhead the Malaysian challenge. Banking on divers SLIM HOPES: Absence of top trio could dampen gold prospects

AJITPAL SINGH et, who is sitting for exams. the Sea Aquatic Championships in [email protected] Zhiayi, a back-up member for the Singapore in June." 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Meanwhile, the three-member has been making steady progress in swimming squad failed to win a diving team will be counted junior competitions. She finished medal against a world class field in A onDEPLETEDfor medals infive-memberthe ongoing fifth in the girls' platform Group B Dubai but Olympian Khoo Cai Lin Asian Aquatics Championships in (14-15) final at last month's World and Kevin Yeap made the n!ition Dubai after returned Junior Championships in Adelaide proud by earning two quota spots empty-handed from the just con• and also won two ,gold fpr Federal each for next year's World Cham• cluded swimming and synchro• Territories at the Malaysia Games pionships in Spain. nised swimming competitions. in Kuantan in June. Cai Lin did not record a good With the absence of Olympic But the Asian meet will offer a time in the women's freestyle final bronze medallist Pandelela Ri• tougher contest for Zhiayi as she but her 4:17.88 gave her fifth plac• nong, Leong Mun Yee and Bryan will face world class divers from ing on Saturday. She also surpassed Nickson Lomas, the team, led by China, North Korea and Japan. the world mecetqualifying time of Sea Games champion Cheong Jun China are unlikely to field 4:18.55. Hoong, only have a medal chance Olympic champion It was enough for the Cai Lin to in the women's 3-metre spring• but are still sending national team earn a second quota spot after board individual discipline as Chi• divers and should have no problem achieving her first in the 800m na and Japan have registered their doing what is expected of them. freestyle at the London Olympics. best divers. "My degree of difficulty. is still low. She swam a commendable 8:49.96 Wendy Ng, Loh Zhiayi, Ooi Tze I am here to gain experiei;lce. I am to finish fourth in the 800m final Liang and Chew Yiwei make up the aware competing at the senior level . on Sunday. squad for the event which starts on is so much different than the junior," Kevin dipped below the world Thursday. said Zhiayi in Dubai yesterday. meet qualifying time in the men's Zhiayi, 15, who specialises in "But the coach told me to treat it 400m and 1,500m freestyle events. women's platform, wants to make just like any competition. I have In synchronised swimming, the an impact on her first major tour• been training hard after the world Lee sisters - Zyanne and Zylane • nament in Dubai. junior meet, so I am really looking finished fifth in free duet· with The debutante was only selected forward to the competition. 73.650 points. Olympic bronze to fill the void left by an injured "It's only my second senior ap• medallists China won the compe• Pandelela, and Traisy Vivien Tuki- pearance after a fruitful outing at tition with 94.210 points. CYCLING Lauretta tal,es centre stage

THE honours among the boys were Abdul Karim (Pelapis); Skm scratch evenly spread, while national junior race: 1 Azrul Taufiq Anuar (Pelapis) Lauretta Eva Adrian remained a 6:37.825s, 2 Mohd Zawawi Azman (Prk), 3 dominant force among the girls in Mohd Syafiq Syazwan Zainuddin the second leg of the SportExcel Na• (Pelapis). tional Junior Circuit (Track) at the Under-16 - 200m sprint: Mohd Fir• Kuala Lumpur Velodrome over the daus Mohd Zonis (Pelapis) bt Mohd Fad• weekend. hil Mohd Zonis (Sel) 2-0, Third: Moham• Amid more calls for the country's mad Shariz Efendi Mohd Shahrin (Sel) bt first indoor velodrome's construc• Asyraf Nairn Ying (Pelapis) 2-1; Team tion to be speeded up - rain dis• sprint: 1Selangor, 2 TMISS, 3 ; 3km rupted events on Friday and Sat• individual pursuit: 1 Mohd Hishamudin urday, while length of events held on Jaafar (TMISS), 2 A1