Diving team and federation urged to improve communication

Divers, coaches, and the Malaysian Swimming Federation were urged to improve communication to avoid issues like what happened at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar.

“After this, I will also meet with the association and coaches to hear their answers and views on why all divers did not qualify for Paris (2024 Olympic Games),” said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.

The sub-par performance of the national diving squad at the World Aquatics Championships, which began on Feb 2, saw divers failing to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris, scheduled to take place in July.

On Thursday (Feb 15), Malaysian Swimming Federation secretary-general Andy Low told a press conference they would investigate national diver Pandelela Rinong’s claims that interference from an “entity” had taken a toll on the divers’ performances in Doha.

Pandelela later said her words were misinterpreted by the media, leading to speculation and misunderstanding.

Speaking to reporters after officiating the Leap To The Stars 2024 High Jump Challenge in Petaling Jaya yesterday, Yeoh (above) dismissed claims there were “entities” affecting the performance of the national diving squad.

She also said she was satisfied with the explanations by divers Pandelela and Nur Dhabitah Sabri in a meeting on Friday (Feb 16).

Diver Bertrand Rhodict Lises is now the sole Malaysian representative who booked a ticket to Paris through the 10m individual platform event at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, last year.

Meanwhile, Yeoh said the positions of Pandelela and Nur Dhabitah in the Road To Gold (RTG) programme needed to be made collectively with the RTG committee and are expected to be known this month.

The RTG is a national project to chase the country’s first gold medal at the Olympic Games.

She also admired the commitment of Pandelela and Nur Dhabitah, who remained determined to continue representing the country despite not having the opportunity to compete in Paris 2024.

In other developments, Yeoh said her ministry allocated RM30,000 to the organisers of the Leap To The Stars 2024 High Jump Challenge - the Shah Alam Sports Club - to continue efforts to unearth new high jump talents in the country.

She also praised the efforts of the Shah Alam Sports Club, which collaborated with the 1 Utama shopping centre to organise the tournament at a popular venue, thereby attracting the interest of the younger generation to become high jump athletes in the future.

- Bernama

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