Tze Liang wins breakthrough gold in 3m springboard
THE sTAR BY RAJES PAUL
Ooi Tze Liang celebrates with his gold medal from the men's 3m springboard. - GLENN GUAN / The Star
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GLASGOW: Diver Ooi Tze Liang will never forget his second Commonwealth Games outing in Edinburgh.
On Thursday, the 20-year-old stole the thunder when he pulled off a big surprise by winning the men’s 3m springboard gold medal at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in super style.
It was the country's fourth gold medal in the Games.
The Penang-born diver had made it to the final as the second qualifier behind the England’s fancied Jack Laugher, who had just a day earlier won the men’ 1m springboard gold.
Tze Liang was hot on the heels of the English right from the start before taking over the top spot in the fifth round with a flawless back three-and-half somersault while Laugher fumbled.
In the final round, the Malaysian showed no signs of nerves to take the gold medal with a score of 457.60 points.
Laugher settled for the silver with 449.70 while another England diver Oliver Dingley came in third with 425.20.
Two other Malaysians – Ahmad Amsyar Azman and Chew Yiwei – also put up creditable showings to finish fifth and 10th respectively.
Tze Liang just couldn’t believe that he had nailed diving’s first gold in the Glasgow Games.
“All the hard work has paid off. I am so happy right now. I did not win any medals in my first Games but, today, I have nailed a gold,” said Tze Liang, whose previous best was a silver medal with Bryan Nickson Lomas at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.
“I dedicate this gold to my family and to all the people of Malaysia. I also would like to thank my coach (Yang Zhuliang) who has been there for me from day one.
“This breakthrough will surely spur me on to do well in the Asian Games next month (in Incheon).”
But first, Tze Liang will be out to win another medal in Glasgow when he gets back into action in the men’s 3m springboard synchro with Amsyar.
On Thursday, the 20-year-old stole the thunder when he pulled off a big surprise by winning the men’s 3m springboard gold medal at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in super style.
It was the country's fourth gold medal in the Games.
The Penang-born diver had made it to the final as the second qualifier behind the England’s fancied Jack Laugher, who had just a day earlier won the men’ 1m springboard gold.
In the final round, the Malaysian showed no signs of nerves to take the gold medal with a score of 457.60 points.
Laugher settled for the silver with 449.70 while another England diver Oliver Dingley came in third with 425.20.
Two other Malaysians – Ahmad Amsyar Azman and Chew Yiwei – also put up creditable showings to finish fifth and 10th respectively.
Tze Liang just couldn’t believe that he had nailed diving’s first gold in the Glasgow Games.
“All the hard work has paid off. I am so happy right now. I did not win any medals in my first Games but, today, I have nailed a gold,” said Tze Liang, whose previous best was a silver medal with Bryan Nickson Lomas at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.
“I dedicate this gold to my family and to all the people of Malaysia. I also would like to thank my coach (Yang Zhuliang) who has been there for me from day one.
“This breakthrough will surely spur me on to do well in the Asian Games next month (in Incheon).”
But first, Tze Liang will be out to win another medal in Glasgow when he gets back into action in the men’s 3m springboard synchro with Amsyar.
