DIVER Pandelela Rinong has a double mission at next month’s World Cup in London while compatriot Leong Mun Yee will not get to compete in individual events for Olympic qualification.
Pandelela, the undisputed platform champion in Southeast Asia who has qualified for the London Olympic Games in the 10-metre platform individual, will attempt to achieve similar feats in both the platform synchro and 3m springboard individual at the world meet.
The 19-year-old will partner Mun Yee in the 10m platform synchro and the World No 3 are favourites to earn one of the four quota slots available for the Olympics.
In the springboard individual, Pandelela should easily finish among the top-18 to feature in London.
“Pandelela is focusing on the springboard in training. I have decided not to register her for the 10m platform individual as I want her to concentrate on earning another Olympic slot in the springboard,” said diving coach Yang Zhuliang yesterday.
“I do not want to burden Pandelela by asking her to compete in too many events. At this stage, earning Olympic qualification is more important than winning medals at the world cup.
“We have qualified for four Olympics events but I want my divers to earn as many berths as possible for the London Games.”
Pandelela is an accomplished 10m platform diver but despite not competing in the 3m springboard individual on a regular basis, she has won medals with her best achievement a silver at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.
Zhuliang has also picked Indonesia Sea Games champion Cheong Jun Hoong for the springboard individual event.
“Pandelela and Jun Hoong have a good chance of doing well in this event. Jun Hoong, however, needs to keep her cool as she tends to lose focus,” he said.
Pandelela, Bryan Nickson Lomas (10m platform and springboard) and Yeoh Ken Nee (3m springboard) have qualified for the London Games.
Others gunning for Olympic berths at the world meet are Ooi Tze Liang (10m platform individual) and Traisy Vivien Tukiet (10m platform individual).
Read more: DIVING: Double mission - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/diving-double-mission-1.29369#ixzz1nN4DrrNH
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