Teenage Diver Nazreen Is Going Places

National diver Nazreen Abdullah has been picked to compete in the Youth Olympic Games qualification tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico, from March 1-2. - Filepic

PETALING JAYA: Youngster Nazreen Abdullah, who won two diving gold medals in his debut SEA Games in Myanmar last month, is going places.

The 15-year-old, Malaysia’s top hope to replace Olympian Bryan Nickson Lomas in the platform discipline, has been picked to compete in the Youth Olympic Games qualification tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico, from March 1-2.

The top nine finishers for each discipline will qualify for the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, in August.

Besides Nazreen, the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) have also picked Mohd Danial to take part in the boys’ springboard and Loh Zhiayi in the girls’ springboard and platform events.

Zhiayi was the silver medallist behind Pandelela Rinong in the 10m platform individual at the Myanmar Games last month.

Nazreen, who stands at only 1.47m, sees the retired Bryan as his idol.

“I hope to be as good as him one day.

“I’m now more confident after the SEA Games outing. My senior (Ooi) Tze Liang is also helping me out in training,” said Nazreen.

Nazreen pulled off a surprise at the Games by getting the better of the more experienced Tze Liang to win the 10m platform individual. He then went on to claim a second gold with Tze Liang in the 10m platform synchro.

Nazreen, Danial and Zhiayi are slated to join the seniors in training in China later this month before leaving for Mexico.

For the record, Malaysia bagged two silvers through Pandelela Rinong in the girls’ springboard and platform in the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore four years ago.