WELL-DESERVED: Pandelela receives the sports incentive scheme worth RM100,000 plus RM200,000 in Amanah Saham Wawasan share units from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya yesterday. — Bernama photo
PUTRAJAYA: National diving queen Pandelela Rinong was yesterday appointed the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry’s Excellent Young Woman Icon for her bronze medal achievement in the London Olympics.
The ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur said Pandelela was a role model to the younger generation to achieve excellence at national and international levels.
She said various programmes, including road shows had been organised according to the availability of Pandelela as well as her parents, in efforts to focus on the importance of the institution of family towards the success of children.
“In this context, Pandelela’s parents had worked hard since Pandelela was young to ensure her success. Parental support and the institution of family are important to ensure the success of children,” she told reporters after a ceremony to congratulate Pandelela at the ministry yesterday.
Pandelela, 19, won a bronze medal in the 10m Platform diving event at the London Olympics and became the first Malaysian woman to win a medal at the Olympics.
Meanwhile, Pandelela said she was grateful and excited to shoulder the responsibility and was thankful to the ministry for the honour.
“I am still young and there is much for me to learn and I hope to be guided if I made mistakes,” she said and advised the younger generation not to give up easily when facing challenges. — Bernama