KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysia Open Diving Championships took an unexpected turn on its first day when national diver Ooi Tze Liang experienced a frightening mishap.
Competing at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil, Tze Liang was off to a promising start in the men’s 3-metre springboard final, securing an early lead with a flawless first dive.
However, things took a turn during his second dive. Tze Liang attempted a reverse two-and-a-half somersault with one-and-a-half twists but misstepped, hitting his head before landing in the pool.
Medical personnel immediately dove in to assist him, and fortunately, he remained conscious.
The incident forced Tze Liang to withdraw from the remainder of the competition, and he was taken to Columbia Asia Hospital in Petaling Jaya for further assessment.
“I can’t provide further comments as we’re still awaiting the medical report from the doctors regarding his injury.
“Credit goes to the medical team for their swift response in providing immediate aid to Tze Liang, though unfortunately, he will not be able to continue with the remaining events in this championship.
“Nevertheless, we will fully support him throughout his recovery process, both through the coaching team and the NSI (National Sports Institute) staff,” said Malaysia Swimming secretary-general Andy Low.
Teammate Syafiq Puteh, who was also competing in the final, expressed that he was shaken by witnessing Tze Liang’s accident.
“The incident with Tze Liang really shook me deeply. At first, everything was going well, but when I saw his head collide with the springboard and then the blood, I completely lost my composure. My plans for the dives after that just fell apart.
“Diving is certainly a high-risk sport, but it’s usually ankles or knees that end up hitting the board. This is the first time in my career I’ve seen someone’s head take an impact, and people need to realise just how hard that springboard is.
“I was supposed to partner with him for the 10-metre synchronised event tomorrow, but given his current condition, I’ll likely have to team up with (Hanis) Nazirul Jaya Surya instead,” said Syafiq after the event.
Syafiq ultimately secured a silver medal with a score of 337.80 points, narrowly missing the top spot to New Zealand’s Frazer Tavener, who won gold with 340.85 points.
The bronze medal went to Tavener’s compatriot, Liam Stone, who scored 333.85 points. — November 2, 2024