KUALA LUMPUR: A confident Pandelela Rinong is ready to make an explosive start in her first assignment this year when she competes in the opening leg of the FINA Diving World Series in Moscow next month.
The 18-year-old Pandelela is eyeing a top-three finish – a feat no Malaysian woman diver has achieved before.
Having enjoyed success in the last two major events, the Sarawakian is confident of making the breakthrough.
She believes that the solid two-month training she had undergone under under coach Yang Zhuliang would put her in good stead when she takes on the big guns.
“The training at home helped me to fine-tune my diving execution and skills. But what is more important is that I am injury-free,” said Pandelela.
Despite being troubled by a neck injury for some time last year, the determined youngster showed nerves of steel to cap a superb year in 2010, emerging as one of the stars in the Malaysian sporting scene with her exploits in diving.
She won two silver medals at the Youth Olympic Games before making a golden dive in the 10m platform at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games – becoming the first Malaysian diver to do so in the Games series.
She also stood tall against the strong cast from China to win one silver and three bronze medals at the Asian Games in Guangzhou.
“I am looking forward to achieving better results this year. My previous best in the World Series was a fourth placing (in Munich last year). It will be great to start the year by breaking into the top three in the first leg at Moscow next month,” she said.
“I am in good condition and I have a few more weeks to get ready. I will continue to devote my time to perfecting my routines.”
Pandelela will compete in two events in all tournaments this year – the individual 10m platform and the 10m synchronised diving.
In the synchronised event, she will partner the ever reliable and experienced Leong Mun Yee.
Asked if she would train in China this year, Pandelela said: “Yes, it is in the pipeline but we have not decided on the dates yet.”
The 18-year-old Pandelela is eyeing a top-three finish – a feat no Malaysian woman diver has achieved before.
Having enjoyed success in the last two major events, the Sarawakian is confident of making the breakthrough.
She believes that the solid two-month training she had undergone under under coach Yang Zhuliang would put her in good stead when she takes on the big guns.
“The training at home helped me to fine-tune my diving execution and skills. But what is more important is that I am injury-free,” said Pandelela.
Despite being troubled by a neck injury for some time last year, the determined youngster showed nerves of steel to cap a superb year in 2010, emerging as one of the stars in the Malaysian sporting scene with her exploits in diving.
She won two silver medals at the Youth Olympic Games before making a golden dive in the 10m platform at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games – becoming the first Malaysian diver to do so in the Games series.
She also stood tall against the strong cast from China to win one silver and three bronze medals at the Asian Games in Guangzhou.
“I am looking forward to achieving better results this year. My previous best in the World Series was a fourth placing (in Munich last year). It will be great to start the year by breaking into the top three in the first leg at Moscow next month,” she said.
“I am in good condition and I have a few more weeks to get ready. I will continue to devote my time to perfecting my routines.”
Pandelela will compete in two events in all tournaments this year – the individual 10m platform and the 10m synchronised diving.
In the synchronised event, she will partner the ever reliable and experienced Leong Mun Yee.
Asked if she would train in China this year, Pandelela said: “Yes, it is in the pipeline but we have not decided on the dates yet.”
No comments:
Post a Comment