By LIM TEIK HUAT
PETALING JAYA: Diver Pandelela Rinong’s credentials make her a strong prospect for gold at the world junior championships in Tucson, Arizona, from Sept 1-6.
But she will have to give up her last chance to win a world junior medal as the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) want her to concentrate on the New Delhi Commonwealth Games (Oct 3-14) and Guangzhou Asian Games (Nov 12-27).
Pandelela is set to return home from the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore as the most outstanding Malaysian athlete with two silver medals from the 3m springboard and 10m platform individual events.
Although the 17-year-old will be in a good position to end a four-year medal drought for Malaysia at the World Juniors in the United States, Asum secretary Edwin Chong felt it will be a more prudent decision for Pandelela to prepare well for the two back-to-back major Games where she is also a medal prospect in both the individual and synchronised events.
Our pride and joy: Malaysian fans greet silver medallist Pandelela Rinong (inset) after the medal ceremony of the 3m springboard diving final at the Singapore Youth Olympic Games on Monday. — Reuters
Pandelela will no longer be eligible to compete in the next edition of the World Juniors, which are held biennially with competitions in two age-groups (14-15 and 16-18).
“We have decided that divers who are eligible but have been named in the squad for the Commonwealth Games and Asiad will not participate in the world junior championships. We will be represented by the back-up divers this time,” said Edwin.
“Pandelela has a very good chance to deliver a medal and possibly even the gold. But it will be too taxing on her to compete as she has to prepare well for the two Games.
“She also has to tread with caution in her preparation as she has just come out of a neck injury suffered before she went to Singapore for the Youth Olympics.’
Edwin added that Pandelela and her partner, Leong Mun Yee, stood a good chance to fight for the 10m platform synchronised gold medal at the New Delhi Games.
“In winning the bronze medal at the world championships in Rome last year, they finished ahead of the other pairs from the Commonwealth countries and only lost to the United States and China,” he said.
“If they perform well on that day, they have a chance of winning the event in New Delhi. The training in China is crucial in getting them to polish up their dive routines.”
Pandelela will leave Singapore for China with coach Huang Qiang after the Youth Olympics on Thursday to join the rest of the national team divers before going to New Delhi for the Commonwealth Games.
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