YOUNGSTERS MAKE THEIR MARK
Coach Zhuliang happy with the progress of his young divers
FADHLI ISHAK fadhli.ishak@nst.com.my
DIVERS Hanis Nazirul Jaya Surya and Jellson Jabillin are gearing up nicely for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.
Yesterday, Hanis and Jellson, both 16, turned on the heat by winning the 10m platform synchro bronze medal at the Australian Grand Prix in Gold Coast.
Hanis-Jellson completed the six-dive event at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre with a 334.62 total to finish behind Britain’s James Heatly-Lucas Thomson (341.70) and Russia’s Nikita Shleikher-Aleksandr Belevtsev (390.84).
Another 16-year-old newcomer Gabriel Gilbert Daim also did well on the final day of competition by claiming the mixed 3m springboard synchro bronze with Nur Dhabitah Sabri on 265.71 points.
Germany’s Martin WolframTina Punzel won the gold with a 276.78 series, followed by Russia’s Nadezhda Bazhina-Nikita Shleikher (271.20).
It was Jellson’s second medal in Gold Coast. He partnered Cheong Jun Hoong to take the mixed 10m platform synchro silver on Saturday.
Jellson was paired up with Hanis for the first time in the Asian Diving Cup in Macau in June and they went on to win the gold medal at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games in August.
“It is a memorable debut season for me.
“My hope is that my performances in recent competitions will earn me a spot in the team for the Commonwealth Games,” said Jellson, who is hoping to return to Sarawak for a short break to celebrate Christmas with his parents.
Understandably, national coach Yang Zhuliang was happy with the progress of his young divers.
“The outdoor pool experience is good for the divers. We now have a sense of what to expect when we return for the Commonwealth Games in April,” said Zhuliang.
RESULTS (all finals) — Men’s 10m
platform individual: 1 Yang Jian (Chn) 466.20 pts, 2 Domonic Bedggood (Aus) 448.90, 3 Nikita Shleikher (Rus) 444.55...6 Jellson Jabillin (Mas) 329.80;
10m platform synchro: 1 Nikita
Shleikher-Aleksandr Belevtsev (Rus) 390.84, 2 James Heatly-Lucas Thomson (Bri) 341.70, 3 Hanis Nazirul Jaya Surya-Jellson Jabillin (Mas) 334.62.
Women’s 3m springboard individual: 1 Chen Yiwen (Chn) 297.75, 2 Maria Coburn (US) 280.80, 3 Huang Xiaohui (Chn) 278.50...4 Nur Dhabitah Sabri (Mas) 272.70;
3m springboard synchro: 1. Krysta Palmer-Maria Coburn (US) 261.00, 2. Tina Punzel-Lena Hentschel (Ger) 242.70, 3. Sayaka Mikami-Hazuki Miyamoto (Jpn) 235.80.
Mixed’s 3m springboard synchro :1 Martin Wolfram-Tina Punzel (Ger) 276.78, 2 Nadezhda Bazhina-Nikita Shleikher (Rus) 271.20, 3 Nur Dhabitah Sabri-Gabriel Gilbert Daim (Mas) 265.71.