Pandelela Has Faith In Backup Divers

Diver Pandelela Rinong and badminton player Jagdish Singh Dhanda Kuldip Singh share a light moment after receiving their awards for Universiti Malaya Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year on Nov 19, 2013. – Bernama Photo

KUALA LUMPUR: Diver Pandelela Rinong is optimistic that divers from the backup squad can win gold medals at the Myanmar SEA Games next month.

The 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist said the backup divers are capable of rising to the occasion and expressed confidence that they would not return home empty-handed.

“I hope the divers given the opportunity to represent the country at the SEA Games will not waste the chance. They must use the opportunity to gain experience to improve their skills in the future,” she told reporters after being crowned Universiti Malaya Sportswoman of the Year, on Tuesday night.

Pandelela, who is pursuing a degree in Sports Science at Universiti Malaya, will be competing in the 10m platform individual event in Myanmar.

The Sarawakian said she would need to be at her very best from this year onwards to excel at next year’s Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

Apart from Pandelela, the other women divers going to Myanmar are Leong Mun Yee, Cheong Jun Hoong, Wendy Ng Yee, Nur Dhabitah Sabri, Loh Zhiayi. Competing in the men’s events are Ooi Tze Liang, Muhd Amsyar Azman, Chew Yi Wei, Danial Sabri and Muhd Nazreen Abdullah. – Bernama