KUCHING: Sarawak Sports School SMK Tabuan Jaya has not forgotten about its former student Pandelela Rinong Pamg.
It was closely monitoring the state’s first Olympic bronze medallist’s progress in London and when the school learnt of the nation’s diving queen’s achievement at the London Olympics, everyone came out to celebrate and shared the joy of success.
“We are extremely proud of her (Pandelela) and this excellent achievement is a result of her persistent hard work, commitment and determination,” said the school’s principal, Hassan Wa’Gani yesterday.
“After studying at SMK Tabuan Jaya for two years, Pandelela was drafted into the national diving squad for training,” he said on the Olympian who was able to get along with her classmates although she was a quiet and well-mannered girl.
“It is very common that most parents are against their children in becoming athletes as they emphasise more on academic performance. That has resulted in the discontinuity of athletes in certain sports,” he said.
Hassan also hoped that Pandelela’s achievement would serve as an encouragement to more parents to allow their children who are interested in sports to undergo higher level training and represent the country in international competitions.
He said there were many potential athletes in Sarawak but it would depend very much on the parent’s approval and support for their children to go further in sports.
“SMK Tabuan Jaya will become a fully sports school in 2014 to help groom more athletes for the state and country,” he said on the school which presently, out of the 436 students there, 218 are athletes.