KUCHING: National diver and Olympic hero Pandelela Rinong Pamg has high hopes on the future of the country’s diving programme following the appointment of two new coaches from China last week.
Welcoming the new addition, Pandelela who is a 2012 London Olympic bronze medallist told The Borneo Post yesterday that the acquisition of two former diving champions from China Wu Minghong and Pan Zhaowei would only improve the programme which could lead to more success in the international stage.
“The appointment is good. With their vast experience and talent, they will certainly help to improve the junior divers. Furthermore, their present will help to reduce the burden on the senior coaches.
“I hope the new coaches would quickly adapt and clematises to the weather, set-up and conditions in the country. The sooner they settle-in, the faster it is that they could show their capabilities,” said Pandelela when met after the presentation ceremony of a Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck courtesy of Naza Quest Sdn Bhd to her father Pamg Joheng.
Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom witnessed the handing over made by Naza Quest Sdn Bhd senior vice-president of its 4-Wheels Motor Group and chief operating officer Datuk Maruan Mohd Said.
Reported in the media last week, the National Sports Council (NSC) has hired former World University Games gold medallists Wu and Pan to groom the national juniors towards the 2016 Olympic Games.
Both had officially reported to national coach Yang Zhuliang last Saturday.
The appointment will add to the recent hiring of the newly-retired Yeoh Ken Nee and Rossharisham Roslan who were recruited to beef up the coaching set-up to handle the 15-member squad, comprising senior and junior divers.
Wu and Pan, both 26, were gold medallists for their country in the springboard at the 2009 World University Games in Belgrade.
The former was also a double gold medallist in the World Cup Grand Prix leg in Moscow, two years ago. Both were signed on a two-year contract.
Rossharisham quit the national squad two years ago and became a competition judge while Yeoh followed suit after the London Olympics, where he became the country’s first male diver to qualify for a final.
Both Yeoh and Rossharisham won the country’s first silver medal in diving at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha in the men’s synchronised 3m springboard.
Apart from the quartet, other coaches are Huang Qiang, Zhang Yikun and Lan Wei. With the additional coaches, Yang had planned to restructure the diving coaching programme.