I want to qualify for Olympics: Yiwei

Kuala Lumpur: National diver, Chew Yiwei did well but finished out of the spot in the semi finals of the men’s 3-metre (m) springboard individual event at the World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.

The 23-year-old diver accumulated 332.65 points to finish 41st out of 57 divers, after completing six attempts in the preliminary round held at the Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Centre.

The 2018 Asian Games bronze medallist started with a commendable dive when he collected 76.50 points to finished fourth but faltered in the second dive with only 44.20 points.

“I got nervous because I want to qualify (for Olympic) so bad. I only did okay at my first dive.

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“I think I have what it takes to be at the top, but I just miss all my dives, my performance is just below average compared to my training.

“Of course I am not satisfied with my performance. I missed a medal yesterday and today I am just terrible,” he said Wednesday.

Xie Siyi of China topped the preliminary with 499.15 points, followed by Jack Laugher of Great Britain at 485.50 points while South Korean Woo Ha-ram finished third with 457.70 points.

The Malaysian 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Ooi Tze Liang also failed to qualify for the semi-finals after finishing in 25th spot with 376.95 points.

The top 18 divers qualified for the semi finals round, and only the top 12 would advance to the final as well as claiming the Olympic spot on merit.

Despite losing the Olympic spot on merit, Yiwei would have two more opportunities to achieve his mission in the upcoming Asian Diving Cup in September (Kuala Lumpur) and next year’s 2020 World Cup in April.

Yiwei noted that his best chance after the World Championship (World Aquatics Championships) would be the 2020 World Cup.

He asserted that qualifying for the Olympics was his biggest mission this year after missing out on the 2016 edition in Rio de Janeiro.

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“World Cup next year is my last hope. Yes, I will qualify for Olympics. It is my do-or-die mission, it is all I train for,” he added.

Yiwei pulled off a surprise when he claimed bronze in the 3m springboard individual event at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia and the medal was Malaysia’s first in 16 years after Yeoh Ken Nee last bagged bronze at the 2002 Busan Asiad. – Bernama

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