Pandelela, Dhabitah have strong chance to win gold in Commonwealth Games: Chef de mission

KUALA LUMPUR – The national diving squad are capable of winning gold in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, based on their performance in the recent World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, according to Malaysia’s chef de mission for the games.

Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya said his confidence was based on the fact that Datuk Pandelela Rinong Pamg and Nur Dhabitah Sabri had beaten divers from other Commonwealth countries in Budapest.

“We pray that Pandelela and Nur Dhabitah can repeat the excellent performance they displayed at the world meet. Personally, I am hoping for gold from them,” he told reporters after checking on the preparations of the national diving squad in Bukit Jalil today.

Shahrul Zaman, however, said the divers should be free from undue pressure for them to do their best.

“I want them to have fun like when they first ventured into the sport. It’s not that we don’t want them to approach it seriously but they can do without the (extra) pressure,” he added.

At the world championship last month, Pandelela-Nur Dhabitah won bronze in the women’s synchronised 10m platform, behind champion China and silver medallist the United States.

Pandelela, who won silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics and bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, also took bronze in the individual 10m platform.

Diving was not listed as a gold prospect when the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) announced its seven-gold target for the Commonwealth Games last month.

However, Shahrul Zaman said the medal target had been set earlier based on projections from every sport association.

National diving coach Datuk Leong Mun Yee said the squad are targeting two medals in Birmingham and gold is within their reach.

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, Malaysia won a gold through Pandelela-Cheong Jun Hoong in the women’s synchronised 10m platform and two bronzes through Mun Yee-Nur Dhabitah in the synchronised 10m platform and synchronised 3m springboard. – Bernama, July 8, 2022