Kong (right) with Ong (centre) and Usop at the press conference. — Photo by Harry Ilias
KUCHING: Forty-three divers from eight countries will be vying for top honours in the FINA World Diving Grand Prix at the Sarawak Aquatic Centre in Petra Jaya from Oct 21-23.
The countries are China with the biggest contingent of 12 divers, followed by host Malaysia with 10 divers, US (6), Canada (5), Australia (4), and two each from Singapore, Hong Kong and Russia.
“Malaysia will represented by our Olympic divers including silver medallist Cheong Jun Hoong but unfortunately Pandelela Rinong Pamg will not be competing due to injury,” Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak (Asas) secretary Anthony Kong told reporters at a press conference at Stadium Negeri yesterday.
Also present were Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO cum Sarawak State Sports Council director Dr Ong Kong Swee and Ministry of Youth, Sports and Solidarity principal assistant secretary Usop Kilat.
“However, Pandelela will be attending the event as a spectator and to give morale support to the national team,” said Kong.
According to him, most of the top divers who competed at the Rio Olympics will be giving the event a miss for much earned rest.
“Some of the former World Cup champions from China will be coming and the championship will be offering prize money apart from awarding medals to the top three winners,” added Kong.
“This is the first time we are hosting an international diving championship at Sarawak Aquatic Centre which had also hosted age-group swimming competition, Sukma time trial, Sukma XVIII swimming, Malaysia Paralimpiad and a national water polo championship.
“The organiser Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) and main sponsor Milo Nestle Malaysia are hosting this event which will put the Sarawak Aquatic Centre on the world map in terms of aquatic sports.
“With the meet of this magnitude and calibre, we are confident it
will bring huge interest for the public to come witness world-class and Olympic medallists diving
in this competition,” added Kong.