Nurqayyum Aims High In World Aquatics Debut

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) -- Singapore may mark his debut at the World Aquatics Championships, but for national up-and-coming diving prospect Nurqayyum Nazmi Mohamad Nazim, it signifies the beginning of a far bigger dream.

The 19-year-old is not just aiming to gain experience at the world meet, which runs from July 11 to Aug 3, but has boldly set his sights on finishing among the top 20 in the individual event.

Across the Causeway, the World Aquatics Junior Diving Championships 2024 bronze medallist is scheduled to compete in two individual events, namely the men’s 3 metre (m) springboard and men’s 1m springboard, as well as the men’s 3m synchronised springboard with fellow debutant Yong Rui Jie.

“I feel so excited for my first debut at the World Aquatics Championships. Of course, there’s a bit of nervousness, but I’ve set those feelings aside because I want to give more than 100 per cent for my debut,” he told Bernama when met at a training session here today.

Nurqayyum, who was introduced to diving at the age of six by his mother Harudillah Halim, 50, said what excited him most about competing in Singapore was the chance to learn from the world’s best.

The Kajang-born diver said he was especially eager to watch and perhaps meet his idols, all of whom were medallists at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, namely Wang Zongyuan of China, Osmar Olvera Ibarra (Mexico), and Jack Laugher (Great Britain).

“I’ve watched a lot of their diving videos and learned from them. So, of course, I want to see how they dive in person in Singapore,” he said.

When it comes to handling pressure during competitions, Nurqayyum has his own way of staying grounded.

He said he listened to hip-hop music to get himself hyped up and leaned on the support of his mother and senior teammates to stay calm.

The 19-year-old said winning a bronze at the world junior meet and now getting the chance to make a splash at the World Aquatics Championships had certainly inspired him to pursue his ultimate goal of qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (LA28).

“If possible, I want to bring home Malaysia’s first-ever Olympic medal in the men’s diving event,” he said.

To date, Malaysia’s Olympic diving medals have all come from the women’s events, most notably through Datuk Pandelela Rinong, who won silver in the women’s 10m synchronised platform with Cheong Jun Hoong at Rio 2016 and bronze in the women’s 10m platform at London 2012.

Last November, Nurqayyum made headlines by ending Malaysia’s 18-year medal drought at the World Junior Diving Championships, securing a bronze in the boys’ 3m springboard (16-18 years) event.

Malaysia’s last podium finish at the junior world meet was during the 2006 edition hosted here, when Elizabeth Jimie and Bryan Nickson Lomas won gold and bronze, respectively.

-- BERNAMA