Jun Hoong Won A Gold Medal In An Event She Didn't Usually Compete In
She won Malaysia’s maiden diving gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest on Wednesday.
By John Lim — 21 Jul 2017, 01:41 PM
Malaysians were overwhelmed with joy when Cheong Jun Hoong clinched the nation's first ever gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest on Wednesday, 19 July
In an event long dominated by Chinese divers, the 27-year-old, who is one-half member of the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist with Pandelela Rinong, scored 397.50 points in the women's 10m platform individual.
Former world champion, Si Yajie of China, grabbed the silver medal with 396.00 points, while her fellow teammate, Ren Qian had to settle for bronze medal after amassing 391.95 points.
What's even more amazing is that the 10m platform is actually not Jun Hoong's usual event!
Jun Hoong was suffering from back muscle spasms in April and she was only cleared to compete in Budapest days before the competition.
Not wanting to put too much stress on her back, Yang Zhuliang, who is Jun Hoong's coach, decided to make a risky and bold move. He placed her in the 10m platform individual, instead of her usual 3m springboard individual.
And as we all know by now, the move paid off and a new world champion was born
“Words cannot describe my happiness. I am so happy! It’s the greatest moment in Malaysian sports. It is so hard to beat the Chinese divers, especially their women," the coach said as quoted by The Star.
Meanwhile, Jun Hoong's mother could not stop beaming when asked about her daughter's remarkable achievement
Jun Hoong’s mother Leow Lai Kwan (right) and sister Cheong Jun Yeng watches a videoclip of the diver’s success in Budapest.
Image via New Straits Times"Thank you Malaysia, for all the support given to my daughter. I am so proud of her. My husband and I had been glued to the television since 12.30am. We simply could not believe it when she was announced champion," Jun Hoong's mother Leow Lai Kwan told the New Straits Times.
