Pandelela and Co head to Macau for final warm-up

PETALING JAYA: The Asian Diving Cup in Macau from June 16-18 will be the final warm-up for the Malaysian divers before they compete in the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, from July 14-22.

Pandelela Rinong, the individual 10m platform bronze medallist at the last world meet in Russia, will lead the women’s challenge in Budapest along with Cheong Jun Hoong, Leong Mun Yee, Wendy Ng Yan Yee and Nur Dhabitah Sabri. (pic)

The three-man team consist of Ooi Tze Liang, Chew Yiwei and Ahmad Amsyar.

All the eight divers are under the elite-only Podium Programme.

Said Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) secretary Mae Chen: “Coach Yang Zhuliang wants the eight to compete in Macau as he needs to evaluate their readiness and events for the World Championships.”

Besides the eight, Asum are also sending five divers under the Kita Juara programme to compete in Macau.

They are Traisy Vivien Tukiet, Loh Zhiayi, Jasmine Lai, Kimberly Bong and Muhd Syafiq Puteh.

The 13 Malaysians are now training in Guangzhou, China.

Besides the Asian Diving Cup and World Championships, they are also preparing for the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games from Aug 19-30.