Diving coach urges Pandelela to skip Asian Diving Cup

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Pandelela Rinong

Pandelela Rinong

KUALA LUMPUR: National diving coach Yang Zhuliang has urged Pandelela Rinong to skip the 6th Asian Diving Cup 2015 competition which starts on Friday at the National Aquatic Centre, Bukit Jalil.

Zhuliang said he had decided to withdraw Pandelela from the competition because she had already qualified for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

“We want to give other divers a chance to qualify for Olympic Games. Our other top divers will participate in the event. This is an important event for Malaysian divers to qualify for Rio.

“I hope they can do their best even though there will be stiff competition from China and South Korea,” he told reporters at the National Aquatic Centre yesterday.

Malaysia had earned two slots for the Olympics through Pandelela and Ng Yan Yee at the recent World Championships in Kazan, Russia, where Pandelela won a bronze in the 10m platform and Yan Yee earned her spot after finishing eighth in the 3m Springboard individual events, respectively.

With Pandelela taking a break, Nur Dhabitah Sabri and Loh Zhiayi would compete in the women’s 10m platform.

For the 6th Asian Diving Cup, besides Nur Dhabitah and Zhiayi, Malaysia will be represented by Ooi Tze Liang, Ahamd Amsyar Azman, Chew Yiwei, Muhammad Syafiq Puteh, Traisy Vivien Tukiet, Cheong Jun Hoong, Kam Ling Kar and Lai Pui Yee.

Zhuliang said some of the divers from China who are taking part in the tournament had already qualified to the Rio Olympics but they want to use this opportunity to be emerge top in the tournament.

China’s best divers Tai Xiaohu and Ji Siyu have confirmed their participation. Five other countries, namely Japan, Indonesia, Qatar, Macau and Uzbekistan will also take part in the three-day competition. — Bernama