Consistency the key for Pandelela in final

CONSISTENCY is needed if Pandelela Rinong is to win a medal in the London Olympics 10m platform at the Aquatic Centre later on Thursday (2am Friday Malaysian time).

Pandelela Rinong has to strive for consistency in the final.

The 19-year-old has a great chance, although gold looks out of reach as only a disaster will prevent China's Chen Ruolin from winning, as she finished the semi-final earlier on Thursday within touching distance of second-placed Meaghan Benfeito of Canada.

The Canadian scored 359.90 from her five dives while Pandelea, who finished fifth, garnered a total 352.50 points.

Third and fourth were Australians Britanny Broben (359.55) and Melissa Wu (355.60). Ruolin was in a class of her own, scoring 407.25 to win the semi-final.

Based on the semi-final, Pandelela will need scores of 75-plus in each of her dives if she is to challenge for a medal.

She had scores of 67.50, 75.40, 70.40, 67.20 and 72.00 in the semi-final.

Meanwhile, Heidi Gan finished 16th in the women's 10km open water swimming, clocking 2:00:45.0s . The Malaysian had targeted a finish higher than her ranking of 24.

Eva Risztov of Hungary won the gold in 1:57:38.2. Second was American Haley Anderson (1:57:38.6) and third Martina Grimaldi (1:57:41.8) of Italy.