He will make his comeback, having retired in 2006, at the Diving World Cup on Feb 20-26 in London.
The 30-year-old hopes to qualify for the London Olympics in the 3-metre springboard synchro discipline, where he will partner either Bryan Nickson Lomas or Yeoh Ken Nee in the World Cup.
Four Olympic spots are up for grabs in the competition and Malaysia’s chance of earning one for the first time in a synchro event looks bright with the China-born diver in the squad.
Huang Qiang is determined to compete in his first Olympics with his adopted country.
“It is a dream come true but I must not get too excited as I’ve not qualified for the Olympics. I must focus on the World Cup,” said Huang Qiang in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
“Lomas, Ken Nee and I have been training together for over five months and coach Yang Zhuliang will decide on the combination soon.
“I don’t feel I am too old as seven out of the top 10 divers in the world are either almost reaching 30 or in their 30s and all of them are still winning titles.”
An Asian Games silver medallist at age 16 in 1998 and beating Russian diving legend Dmitri Sautin three times in 1999, Huang Qiang was one of the strongest gold medal contenders for the
2000 Sydney Olympics, but a back injury cost him his chance and he had to withdraw from the squad just days before moving into the Olympic village.
He was then partnering Tian Liang and they were unbeatable.
Following the injury, Huang Qiang turned to coaching. He signed up as a coach of the Malaysian elite squad in 2007.
He received his Malaysian citizenship last July but was told to wait nine months, as stipulated by world governing body FINA, before he could compete once again.
The cooling off period was due to end in April but FINA gave the clearance several days ago after the world body received the required documentation from the China Diving Association.
“I was a favourite in Sydney but injury forced me out. I was heart-broken but it is all in the past now as I can now compete again,” said Huang Qiang.
On whether he would be able to qualify for the Olympics, Huang Qiang said he would try his best.
“We should be able to secure an Olympic berth if we finish in the top-six bracket as those who secured their berth at last year’s world meet, are also competing in the World Cup,” he added.
Malaysia have so far earned four Olympic quota spots through Lomas (men’s 10m platform and 3m springboard), Ken Nee (3m springboard) and Pandelela Rinong (women’s 10m platform).
Coach Zhuliang, however, wants his divers to earn as many Olympics quota spots as possible in the World Cup.
“Huang’s (Qiang) is in good form but we must not get carried away as he has not competed for a long time.
“As for the World Cup, I want my divers to focus on only one preferred event. For instance, Pandelela, who has already qualified for the Olympic platform event, will only focus on the 3m springboard in this competition,” said Zhuliang.
The divers are expected to head for China for a training stint before the World Cup.
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