Mun Yee Brings Her Hobby Along To Kill Time

PALEMBANG: Diver Leong Mun Yee is so engrossed in cross stitching that she has even brought her hobby here.

But rest assured, diving is still very much in her blood and she has no plans to stop competing in the SEA Games.

Mun Yee has never missed the Games since competing in Chiangmai in 1995 and this will be a record eighth straight campaign for her.

That makes her the first Malaysian female athlete with the most number of Games appearances.

In her element : Malaysia’s Leong Mun Yee competing at the Asian Diving Cup in Bukit Jalil on Sept 26. — GLENN GUAN / The Star

But just don’t ask her how many gold medals she has won.

“I’ve lost count ... but I am sure I’ve never failed to win at least one since the Kuala Lumpur Games in 2001,” said the Perak-born diver, who turns 27 next month.

“I will still dive as long as I am in the national team.

“If I stay free of injuries and remain competitive, I want to go for the next Games as well.”

And it could be double joy for Mun Yee in her eighth outing.

She will only compete in the synchronised disciplines, partnering Wendy Ng Yan Yee in the 3m springboard and Kam Ling Kar in the 10m platform.

“I am just focusing on the synchro as there are other younger divers capable of challenging me in the individual events,” said Mun Yee.

“We are the strongest, on paper, for the 3m springboard but nothing is certain as one poor dive can change the outcome.

“For the platform synchro, I have a new partner and we have not competed together before this, so we have to see how things go in training.”

Mun Yee said cross stitching was her way of spending whatever little spare time she has.

“Free time is a luxury for us and it is mostly over the weekends,” said Mun Yee, a silver medallist at the Guangzhou Asian Games last year.

The diving competition begins tomorrow and the Malaysians could bag the lion’s share of the eight gold medals at stake.