Coach: Jun Hoong will get better but beware the Chinese

SEPANG: National diving head coach Yang Zhuliang (pic) believes world 10m platform champion Cheong Jun Hoong can only get better.

The 53-year-old well-known and experienced coach, who has been instrumental in transforming Malaysia into a major diving force over the past decade, wants Jun Hoong to keep her feet firmly on the ground following her triumph at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, last Wednesday.

“Jun Hoong has come a long way,” said Zhuliang.

“I still remember clearly the day Jun Hoong belly-flopped in one of her dives during her debut at the 2005 world meet (in Montreal, Canada), earning her zero points.

“I have not lost faith in her. Twelve years later, she beat two of China’s top divers (Si Yajie and Ren Qian) to become Malaysia’s world champion ... how remarkable.

“It’s surely a win to cherish for Jun Hoong, but I think she has so much more potential and can achieve more international success.

“All the while, she was struggling to get her technique right but in Budapest, she did it all right.

“So, I hope she will continue to continue work hard on her technique and stay consistent.

“But I know her well enough, she’s someone who will not be satisfied with just one win and will strive for more success in the future,” said Zhuliang.

However, he warned of a strong backlash from the Chinese now that they have failed to win the women’s platform individual gold for a second successive year.

China won the title through Chen Ruolin and Si Yajie at Shanghai 2011 and Barcelona 2013 before North Korea’s Kim Kuk-hyang sprung a surprise in Kazan, Russia, two years ago.

“Let’s not get carried away. China lost this time but their divers will be back to redeem themselves at future high-level competitions,” said Zhuliang.

“China has depth in ranks and can produce many talents unlike Malaysia where we have to depend only on a few.”