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| Role model: Pandelela accepting the cheque from Jabu as Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing looks on. |
The 20-year-old said she had decided not to participate in two other categories “to give way” to younger members of the Malaysian team.
“I’m giving up the synchronised 10m platform and the synchronised 3m springboard events,” she told reporters yesterday after accepting a cheque for RM30,000 from the Dayak Cultural Foundation at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex.
“My goal at the SEA Games is to go for gold in the 10m platform event,” added the athlete from Kampung Jugan, Bau, who won bronze in the same category last year’s Olympics in London.
Foundation chairman Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu presented Pandelela with the cheque for her achievements at the Summer Games.
Also present were her parents Pamg Joheng and Hartini Lamin.
In the 10m platform category, Pandelela won gold at the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games and also at the 2011 Palembang SEA Games.
This year’s SEA Games, to be held in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, kicks off Dec 11.
“I’m returning to intensive training in China together with the rest of the Malaysian diving team next week,” Pandelela said.
She said she would remain with the Malaysian team in China for another two weeks.
This weekend, she is making a brief stopover in Sibu to accept a sports award.
The national diver, who continues to train eight hours on most days, is pursuing a Sports Science degree at Universiti Malaya.
Meanwhile, Jabu said the foundation’s reward to the sports star was for her sacrifices and also to inspire other youths.
“Pandelela has made all of us so proud, representing the Dayaks as a national athlete all over the world,” Jabu said.
Pandelela, when asked what she would do with the money, replied she would save it for rainy days.
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