PETALING JAYA: There were cheers in the pool and off it for the Malaysian diving team with two weeks before they begin their SEA Games mission in Hanoi. At the National Age-Group Championships in Ipoh yesterday, Mohd Syafiq Puteh (pic) put up an impressive six-dive performance to win the men’s 3m springboard Open competition with 434.85 points. The 22-year-old Syafiq not only enjoyed the satisfaction of beating the more experienced seniors Chew Yiwei and Ooi Tze Liang but also scored a career-high score of 87.50, which he achieved on his final dive of the day. Yiwei, the 2018 Asian Games bronze medallist in the 3m springboard individual, settled for silver after putting an equally good performance with 430.40 points. Sabah-born Gabriel Gilbert Daim was the surprise bronze winner after chalking 420.35 points to leave the defending SEA Games champion Tze Liang in fourth spot (404.75). Perak-born Syafiq has shown he is currently the strongest diver in the 3m springboard … [Read more...] about Syafiq upstages seniors in 3m springboard, Dhabitah named SEA Games flagbearer