DIVING: Expect More From Pandelela

CONFIDENT: Form in training has coach Zhuliang excited

NATIONAL coach Yang Zhuliang believes Pandelela Rinong will do even better than before as the diver returns to competition for the first time since the London Olympics in the six-leg World Series, which begins in Beijing in March.Pandelela has recovered from a right ankle injury, which kept the Bidayuh-lass from last year's Asian Championships and Asean University Games after her bronze effort in the Olympics.

"Pandelela has begun high intensity training and from what she has shown, I am confident she will make a huge impact this season. I am, however, not pushing her to try out tougher routines just yet," Zhuliang told Timesport yesterday.

"She does not need to increase her degree of difficulty as it is high enough to win medals in world class competitions. All she needs to do is to improve her executions."

Pandelela, who won the bronze in the 10-metre platform at the Olympics, is the only Malaysian qualifier for the World Series.

She will compete in the opening leg in Beijing on March 15-17 followed by Dubai (March 21-23). Edinburgh (April 19-21), Moscow (April 26-28), Guadalajara (May 17-19) and Mexico City (May 24-26).

The World Series will be used by Pandelela to prepare for the World University Games (Kazan; July 6-17) and the World Championships (Barcelona; July 19-Aug 4).

"The World Series and the World Grand Prix will give me an idea on the progress made by divers from other nations, especially China, who have promoted their back-up divers to the senior squad.

"China's back-up divers are as good as their seniors and I expect them to make an immediate impact.

"Our divers have been putting in a lot of work in training and I hope they will progress accordingly. I am preparing them for the 2016 Olympics," said Zhuliang

The national divers will leave for Dali, China for a training stint between 40 and 45 days, tentatively on Feb 6.

"Except for Bryan Nickson Lomas, the others are going to China. Lomas is focusing on his studies this year. The purpose is to get the seniors and juniors to focus on learning their routines without any distractions.

"I want the juniors to learn new routines. It will be hard for them to be competitive if they are unable to come up with new routines.

"The juniors, especially, have a lot to catch up as they are yet to be comfortable with the more difficult dives," said Zhuliang.

Mohd Danial, Mohd Nazreen, Nur Dhabitah Sabri and Adeline Chin, who joined the elite squad recently, are among the 16 divers in the senior programme.

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