Rui Jie's early morning grind pays off in Sukma gold

Shah Alam: Young diver Yong Rui Jie triumphed in the boys 3m springboard event at the Selangor Selangor Malaysia Games, clinching the gold medal. The early alarm clocks, chilly morning sessions, classes, and subsequent training sessions culminated in Rui Jie's victory with an impressive score of 391.85 points. Selangor's Haris Rezal claimed the silver with 387.45 points, while defending champion Elvis Priestly Clement rounded out the podium with a bronze medal score of 368.30.

The 3m springboard event marked the first diving gold for the Federal Territories in the Games. Rui Jie, who took silver at the previous edition, dedicated his gold medal to himself, expressing that his daily routine of waking up at 5.30 am for training and juggling classes and training left him with no alternative but to secure the victory.

The win marked a significant milestone for Rui Jie, who aimed for redemption after missing out on the title in the previous Games. Rui Jie credited his coach, Ooi Tze Liang, for his significant contributions to his improvement, both technically and mentally. Rui Jie's performance in Selangor provided a crucial boost as he prepares for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where he hopes to make a mark in his diving journey.