KUALA LUMPUR - After putting in so much time, energy and effort, national women’s diver Nur Dhabitah Sabri has set a personal target of winning a medal in her second Olympics appearance.
Drawing on the experience she gained at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janerio, the 2019 Asia Diving Cup gold medallist feels more mature now and motivated to register a podium finish in the women’s 3 metres individual springboard event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Nur Dhabitah, who turns 22 today, said she is giving her all during training as she prepares for the world’s most prestigious sports event.
“I am really training and working hard to prepare myself, and I can’t deny that my journey to Tokyo was not easy and filled with challenges that I managed to overcome.
“Of course, I’m targeting a medal like other athletes. But if it is not meant to be, then even if we compete in many Olympics, it (medal) still won’t be ours. But I aim to win a medal in my second appearance,” she told Bernama.
The 2018 Asian Games double medallist, however, won’t let pressure stress her out when she competes in Tokyo.
Instead, she wants to enjoy the most important moment in her sporting career and avoid any negative elements that might distract her focus.
“I take comfort in the effort that I’ve put in, and I’m ready for whatever the outcome. I have trained hard and will give my best at the Olympics. If I am lucky enough to win a medal, Alhamdulillah. If not I need to accept it graciously,” the Kuala Lumpur-born Nur Dhabitah said.
She did, however, admit that the COVID-19 pandemic has been very challenging for her.
Although she struggled emotionally and mentally as she could not meet her family following the implementation of the sports bubble standard operating procedure, the youngest of four siblings said it allowed her and her teammates to focus fully on their training.
“In Instagram stories posted by international divers we can see them training and going back and forth to meet their families like normal but here the situation is different. We do get to train full time, but the stress can be a bit disturbing,” the Federal Territories best sportswoman for 2017/2018 said.
Nur Dhabitah is in her best form to challenge some of the global diving powerhouses at the Tokyo Games, including China, Canada, Australia and Great Britain, and secure a podium finish.
She hopes to maintain her current focus and motivation levels and be careful to avoid any injury during training sessions before competing in the Games on July 30.
At the 2016 Olympics, Nur Dhabitah, who was then 17, managed to enter the final round of the women’s 10m individual event and finished ninth, while compatriot Pandelela Rinong Pamg finished 11th.
The Tokyo Games, scheduled to take place from July 23 to Aug 8, will be staged without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic. - Bernama. July 12, 2021
