'Big Brother' Syafiq believes back-up squad divers can deliver medals at Sea Games

KUALA LUMPUR - National diver Muhammad Syafiq Puteh is confident that the Sea Games diving squad can achieve the three-gold, three silver and two bronze medal target although a majority of the divers are from the back up squad.

The 27-year-old diver who will be the ‘big brother’ in the diving squad that will be competing at the Cambodia SEA Games from May 5 to 17, believes all the hard work in training will translate into gold medals during the games.

"Though the Sea Games will be the first international competition for them, I believe they will rise to the occasion and finish on the podium of their respective events after going through hard training during the preparation period,” he told reporters during the Sea Games contingent’s media conference at the National Sports Council (NSC), here today.

The Sea Games in Cambodia, held in Phnom Penh, offers four gold medals in total.

From the eight divers listed for the Sea Games, only Muhammad Syafiq, Gabriel Gilbert Daim (3m Springboard), Bertrand Rhodict Anak Lises (10m platform), Kimberly Bong and Ong Ker Yin Ong Ker Yin (women’s 3m Springboard) competed in the Vietnam Sea Games, last year.

Enrique Maccartney Harold (men’s 10m platform), Lee Yiat Qing and Nur Eilisha Rania Muhammad Abrar Raj, both competing in the women’s 10m platform, will be competing in the SEA Games for the first time.

Big names in regional and international competitions like Datuk Pandelela Rinong, Nur Dhabitah Sabri, Ooi Tze Liang and Wendy Ng Yan Yee have not been listed for the SEA Games, to enable back up squad divers to gain exposure.

Muhammad Syafiq who is targetted to defend the men’s 3m Springboard diving gold, said preparations for the Games has been progressing well and that he was now in the process of rectifying several mistakes in the technique that were identified during the Malaysian Invitational Age Group Championships (MIAG) which ended at the Bukit Jalil Swimming Complex on Monday.

"I have about a month to rectify the mistakes and weaknesses identified. Competition will certainly be stiff from divers who come from Thailand and Singapore. I am therefore, not going to be overconfident or set lofty targets,” he said.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Kimberly from Sarawak whose progress had been bogged by injuries to her shoulder, believes she is on the right track to replace senior divers in the squad like Pandelela and Nur Dhabitah and stake a claim for medals at international competitions.

"I need to catch up with them (seniors). I am bit below them, I need more training, need to improve my skills. After the SEA Games, we have the World Championships and the Asian games, so I have my targets to progress,” she said.

National diving coach Carlyse Chan Wee Cheik said the Sea Games will serve as a good platform to expose young divers in her squad after the COVID-19 pandemic which had disrupted preparations for international competitions in the past. - BERNAMA