M’sia Swimming banks on Pandelela-Dhabitah for medal in Fukuoka

KUALA LUMPUR – It is hoped that the pair of national diving queens Datuk Pandelela Rinong and Nur Dhabitah Sabri will be able to win a medal for the country in the women’s 10m synchronised platform event at the World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, starting tomorrow.

Malaysia Swimming honorary secretary Andy Low said they have a good chance to grab a podium position and thus book a slot for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris if they are able to make impressive dives in the meet.

He said the best three pairs competing in the synchro events will get a ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games while the best 12 divers in the individual events will also qualify for the world’s biggest sports games.

“Podium is not impossible…there is a chance, but it will be a tough fight, as you must perform very well to get a medal.

“However, MS feels that the women’s 10m platform event (Pandelela-Dhabitah) has a bright chance of delivering a medal based on their previous experience,” he said.

Last year, Pandelela-Dhabitah won bronze at the same championship held in Budapest, Hungary.

If the national divers do not bring home a medal, Andy hopes that they will at least be able to improve their performance and collect high scores in the competition that will be held at the Fukuoka Prefectural Pool.

Apart from Pandelela and Dhabitah, among the national divers who will make an appearance in Fukuoka are Ooi Tze Liang, Muhammad Syafiq Puteh, Gabriel Gilbert Daim, Enrique Maccartney Harold, Kimberly Bong and Nur Eilisha Rania Abrar Raj.

Meanwhile, Eilisha, who will be making her debut at the World Aquatic Championships, said she is excited to compete with other world-class divers in Fukuoka.

The Sarawak athlete who will compete in the women’s 10m platform event also hopes to make up for her disappointment by performing better after failing to shine at the 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

In Phnom Penh, the 17-year-old finished in fourth place in the women’s platform event behind the country’s leading young diver Lee Yiat Qing who won gold.

The World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, which lasts for more than two weeks, will end on July 30. – Bernama, July 13, 2023