KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- The national diving squad is expected to face a tough test in their bid to maintain regional dominance at the SEA Games in Thailand this December, as regional rivals, particularly Singapore, have shown marked improvement in the sport.
Despite the looming challenge, coach Aznizal Najib remains optimistic, stating that preparations are well underway to ensure the Malaysian contingent remains the powerhouse of Southeast Asian diving.
He pointed to the athletes’ encouraging performances at the 60th Malaysia Invitational Age Group (MIAG) Diving Championships yesterday as evidence that Malaysia is still on the right track.
“I expect this year’s SEA Games to be highly competitive. We’ve also taken note of Singaporean divers who delivered strong performances at the recent World Championships.
“However, we can still give them a real fight if we work hard. There are still a few months left to catch up before the SEA Games,” he told Bernama on Saturday.
At the Thailand SEA Games, diving will offer four gold medals across the following events - men's 1m and 3m springboard, men’s 3m synchronised springboard, and women’s 10m synchronised platform.
Meanwhile, Aznizal confirmed that national platform specialist Elvis Priestly Clement will be focusing on springboard events for the remainder of the season, following a back injury on his left side, and also as part of his preparations for the SEA Games.
“We were aware of his injury. It happened about two weeks before MIAG. He did compete, but not in his favourite event, the platform.
“For now, he’s concentrating on springboard events, and we’re hopeful his injury will fully heal in the next few weeks,” he added.
As part of their build-up to the SEA Games, the national diving squad will compete in two upcoming tournaments, namely the Asian Aquatics Championships in India (Sept 28 to Oct 1) and the Malaysian Open (Oct 31 to Nov 2).
-- BERNAMA
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