Pandelela, Nur Dhabitah have high hopes for Hanoi

KUALA LUMPUR – National divers Datuk Pandelela Rinong Pamg and Nur Dhabitah Sabri will be looking to stand on the top podium at the 2022 Hanoi SEA Games in May after joining forces once again for the 10m synchronised platform event. 

Pandelela, 29, was paired with 22-year-old Dhabitah after her previous diving partner Datuk Leong Mun Yee announced her retirement in December last year. 

Speaking to The Vibes, Pandelela said she is training well with her new teammate. 

“We have been training well together and will be in Perak for the SEA Games warm-up,” she said. 

The national divers are currently in Ipoh for a six-day training camp at the Tuanku Zara Aquatic Centre. 

They will also be involved in a two-day competition at the venue on April 22 and 23. 

“Although both of us have no issues with chemistry and synchronisation, we need to polish up our individual techniques and be fully fit leading up to the games in Hanoi,” said the two-time Olympic medallist. 

As her former diving partner is now the SEA Games squad team manager, Pandelela believes Mun Yee’s experience will be truly beneficial to the team during the competition. 

“It is good to finally have someone with a diving background as our team manager.

“She will definitely be helpful in looking out for us and assisting the coaches throughout the Games,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Dhabitah echoed her new partner’s comments, saying that so far, preparations have been going smoothly. 

“For now, it is going well, but of course, we have injuries here and there.

“However, it does not stop us from performing and training − doing physio at the end of the day helps after a long session.

“I am fasting this month and it does have its effects but I take it as a challenge to help me prepare mentally and physically,” she said. 

She said her partnership with Pandelela is going well as the most important aspect was communication. 

“We just have to take it as a normal training session and communicate with each other to ensure we’re synchronised and work at our best together.

“We want to prove to ourselves that we want to be better and improve what we can. 

“It’s all about training seriously and consistently, and doing the same for each dive − that’s all that matters,” she added. 

Pandelela and Dhabitah’s combination for the event is not a new partnership as they had previously paired up for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the 2017 World Diving Series in Windsor, Canada. – The Vibes, April 20, 2022