Pandelela’s parents ecstatic over silver medal win

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(From right) Hartini, Pamg, Parcelia and Pici are overjoyed to see Pandelela’s success in the Rio Olympics.

(From right) Hartini, Pamg, Parcelia and Pici are overjoyed to see Pandelela’s success in the Rio Olympics.

KUCHING: Parents and siblings of national diving queen Pandelela Rinong are ecstatic over her daughter and teammate Cheong Jun Hoong’s silver medal victory in the women’s synchronised 10m platform at the Rio Olympics.

Her father Pamg Joheng and mother Hartini Lamim were all smile seeing their daughter’s success.

“I am really proud. My wife and I stayed up to watch the event at 3am. We were really excited,” Pamg said a day after the diving pair delivered the first medal for Malaysia in Rio 2016.

With the win, Pandelela and Cheong also become the first women ever to win silver for Malaysia at the Olympic Games.

Pamg got his spot in the limelight at work again as news of the diving pair’s success spread across the entire country since early Wednesday.

“Yes, everyone at the (construction) site came and congratulated me. The wishes came pouring in. Our relatives, neighbours and friends also called…including the media,” he said.

Pandelela’s mother is also extremely proud of her daughter’s success.

“It is unbelievable. I am very happy but also worried and scared because I saw tape on her back (kineso tape or elastic therapeutic tape used for treating pain and disability from athletic injuries and a variety of other physical disorders).

“She injured her back, muscle or tendon before. Maybe, she did not have proper and sufficient rest to heal the injury. Nevertheless, I hope she does well in the next event…even to the highest level,” he said.

Sisters Pici Parnia a Form 6 student and Parcelia Renyelia in Form 4 just laughed when asked how their school days were.

“Teachers, classmates and other students congratulated us. It’s a great pride and joy,” Parcelia said.

When asked how they were coping with the sudden attention, the sisters, who go to SMK Muara Tuang said: “It is not quite stressful. We have somehow adapted to it.”

The parents have not yet spoken to Pandelela on the phone when met Wednesday due to the difference in time zone. When they did attempt another call, Pandelala was unable to pick up the call as she was training in the morning after winning the silver medal.

Pamg, his wife and son Pardika Indoma, will be going to Rio on Aug 15 to see Pandelela in action in the 10m platform individual event.

“We, together with the whole of Sarawak, are keen to see her perform in the individual event on Aug 17. We have been invited to go there to give her support.

“Let’s give her all the strength and prayers for her victory on the invidudal event,” he said.

The family also hopes to see Pandelela able to return home to Kuching after the games to get some rest and give her a well deserved praise for her victory.