Diving head coach Yang Zhuliang,
Chinese diving coach’s contract not renewed, may leave M’sia by Dec 31
who has produced a world champion and Olympic medallists, has been shown the exit. Zhuliang’s contract has not been renewed and indications are he will be leaving Malaysia by Dec 31. “I was hoping to take the divers to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. I have done my best to bring up the standard of Malaysian diving and I had imparted all my knowledge to the divers. I’m happy I have achieved a lot of historic firsts for Malaysia during my tenure and I leave with no regrets.”
KUALA LUMPUR: Despite producing a world champion and Olympic medallists, diving head coach Yang Zhuliang has been shown the exit.
Zhuliang’s contract has not been renewed and indications are he will be leaving Malaysia by Dec 31.
It is learnt the National Sports Institute wants to put the long-serving Chinese coach in charge of development.
The 53-year-old coach, who returned to Malaysia after a monthlong break, said his contract has not come up for discussion.
“It looks like they don't want me to be in charge of the national team anymore.
“I was hoping to take the divers to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. I have done my best to bring up the standard of Malaysian diving and I had imparted all my knowledge to the divers.
“I’m happy I have achieved a lot of historic firsts for Malaysia in diving and I leave with no regrets.
“It’s okay as I can now devote my time to taking care of my elderly parents in China as they are in their nineties,” said Zhuliang, who has been in charge of the national team since returning in 2008.
Zhuliang has been instrumental in the rise of our divers and delivering medals at top-level competitions over the last decade.
Zhuliang arrived in 2001 and a year later, guided Yeoh Ken Nee and Leong Mun Yee to three bronze medals at the Busan Asian Games before helping Bryan Nickson Lomas win the platform title at the World Junior Championships in Brazil in 2004.
He left for Australia after guiding the divers to the overall title at the 2005 Manila SEA Games.
He returned in 2008 and guided Pandelela Rinong-Mun Yee to a historic bronze medal at the world meet in Rome the following year.
Malaysia have since made the podium two more times in Rome in 2013 (Pandelela-Mun Yee) and in Kazan in 2015 (Pandelela) before the historic win from Cheong Jun Hoong in the women's 10m platform individual in Budapest, Hungary this year.
Pandelela also made history with a bronze in the platform individual at the London Olympics in 2012.
She partnered Jun Hoong to deliver a silver medal in the plat- form synchro at the Rio Olympics last year.
Malaysia have also produced winners at the Commonwealth Games through Pandelela (in the women's 10m platform individual in New Delhi in 2010) and Ooi Tze Liang (men's 3m springboard individual in Glasgow in 2014).