Mae: Seize the opportunity with North Korea’s absence

national divers can now dare to dream big at the Tokyo Olympics following North Korea’s decision not to participate in it.

The North Korean Olympic committee announced on Monday that the will not be sending their athletes for the Olympics on July 23-Aug 8, citing Covid-19 fears.

Malaysia will likely benefit from North Korea’s absence, especially in the women’s platform events.

Barring any injury concerns, Malaysia’s prospect of winning a medal in the women’s 10m platform synchro through Pandelela Rinong-Leong Mun Yee is now brighter.

In 2019, Pandelela-Mun Yee took advantage of North Korea’s absence by winning a silver at the World Championships in Gwangju, finishing behind China’s Lu Wei-Zhang Jiaqi.

North Korea have won medals in the previous world meets.

Kim Kuk Hyang took the 10m platform title at the 2015 world meet, and in the 2017 Budapest edition, she partnered Kim Mi Rae for silver in the synchro event.

National coach Li Rui, who is tasked with preparing PandelelaMun Yee for the Tokyo Olympics, acknowledged that North Korea are a serious threat in diving.

“Mi Rae-Jo Jin Mi were absent at the world meet in Gwangju, but they did beat the Chinese divers for the gold at the Diving World Series in Montreal earlier.

“Mi Rae is also an accomplished diver in the individual event. She won the platform title at the Kazan leg of the World Series in 2019.”

Malaysia Swimming (MS) secretary general Mae Chen (pic) also agreed that the absence of North Korean divers will be an advantage to Malaysia.

“But having said that, it is also important for our divers to seize the opportunity that comes,” said Mae.

“We should be able to get a medal in the platform synchro if our divers get all of their dives right on the day.”