DIVERS UNLIKELY TO MAKE HUGE SPLASH
Zhuliang says Pandelela and Co are not fully fit after injuries
AJITPAL SINGH ajitpalsingh@nst.com.my peat their Rio Olympic Games silver medal feat in the women’s 10m platform synchro event.
Pandelela will also compete in the platform individual event, where she won a bronze medal in the previous edition in Kazan, Russia in 2015.
Jun Hoong has also been entered for the platform and 1m springboard individual events.
Wendy Ng and Nur Dhabitah Sabri will compete for honours in the 3m springboard individual and synchro disciplines.
Zhuliang is adopting a relaxed approach to their participation in the world meet.
“It is an important meet and of course, we want to win a medal but I cannot pressure our divers too much as some are still car- rying injuries.
“Divers cannot be in top form year in and year out. If I push them too hard then they may suffer from serious injuries. We cannot afford that as our target is the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
“Pandelela and Jun Hoong could not go through the proper training programme when we were in Kuala Lumpur and China as they also had to undergo rehabilitation,” said Zhuliang in Budapest yesterday.
Seasoned campaigner Leong Mun Yee will compete in the mixed team event.
Mun Yee was at first a standby in case Pandelela was not able to partner Jun Hoong.
Reigning Commonwealth Games champion Ooi Tze Liang, Ahmad Amsyar Azman and Chew Yiwei make up the men’s team for the world meet.
Malaysia have so far earned three podium finishes in the world meet. Mun Yee-Pandelela took bronze twice in the women's 10m platform synchro in Rome (2009) and in Barcelona (2013).
Besides diving, Malaysia will al- so have interest in synchronised swimming through Zylane Lee Yhing Huey, Gan Hua Wei and Foong Yan Nie.