LONDON, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Chef-de-Mission Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid has described as phenomenal, Pandelela Rinong anak Pamg's victory in grabbing the bronze medal in a diving event Friday.
He said it portrayed the true fighting spirit of the Malaysian athlete.
He said the 19-year-old Sarawakian had an "extra push" in herself, crawling back from a poor start in the first dive to surpass other worldclass divers for the medal.
"She's the phenomenon. Malaysian athletes and the public should be inspired with her fighting spirit," he told reporters here.
Pandelela Thursday won the 2012 Olympic bronze which is worth a cash incentive of RM300,000 and RM2,000 pension per month under the youth and sports ministry's Sports Incentive Scheme (Shakam) after collecting 359.20 points in the Women's 10m Platform event held at the Aquatics Centre.
Australian Brittany Broben took the silver with 366.50 while Chen Ruolin of China secured the gold with 422.30.
Pandelela collected 58.50, 78.30, 64.00, 81.60 and 76.80 points in the five events of the Women's 10m Platform final.
Her bronze is the first medal for the Malaysian contingent from a diving event since the country's inaugural participation in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
Five medals, comprising three silver and two bronze, were contributed by badminton.
Datuk Lee Chong Wei clinched a silver through the men's badminton singles in Sunday's final.
Commenting on the overall Malaysian athletes' achievement in the London Games, Ahmad Sarji said Malaysia was in the frontier of getting a medal and not at the periphery stage.
"We have got the best infrastructure back in Malaysia, best coaches and best athletes, too.
"It's just the time that will decide when we can get the elusive gold. But for the London Games, I'm really satisfied that we could get two medals from two different sports. It's also an achievement for the Malaysian contingent.
"If your athletes are at the frontier of getting gold, then they will get it," he said.
In a related development, Ahmad Sarji said he was amused with the attitude of Britons in supporting their athletes.
"At every stadium, the crowd's vocal support, whether their athletes were at the preliminary round or final, was the same. They treat their athletes as champions although in some events, the Britons seem to be losing," he added.
He said Malaysians should emulate the Britons' attitude of supporting their athletes.
From Zulhilmi Supaat -- BERNAMA
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