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| Future of the country: Junior divers Hanis Nazirul Jayasurya (left), Jellson Jabillin (second from left), Gabriel Gilbert Daim (fifth from left) and Kimberly Bong (right) will be put to the test when the SEA Games diving competition gets under way today. |
Jellson Jabillin, Hanis Nazirul Jayasurya, Gabriel Gilbert Daim and Kimberly Bong will make their Games debut alongside their seniors over the next five days.
Except for 15-year-old Sarawak-born Kimberly, the others are 16.
Their performances will decide whether Malaysia can make a clean sweep of all the 13 golds at stake.
Gabriel will be the first to step out when he partners two-time Olympian Pandelela Rinong in the team event (3m springboard and 10m platform) today.
Malaysia swept all eight golds at the Singapore Games in 2015.
While the National Sports Council (NSC) have targeted the divers to win at least 11 of the 13 golds, Zhuliang is hoping for them do even better.
“This will be a test for the juniors. We’ve worked on them for the last few weeks in training in Guangzhou (China). We started from nothing with them and the difficulties they learned should be enough for the SEA Games level.
“These youngsters are the future of Malaysian diving. The seniors also came out from the SEA Games before going on to the Olympics, so this is the first test for them,” said Zhuliang.
Reigning 10m platform world champion Cheong Jun Hoong will only dive in one event – the women’s 1m springboard individual.
Jun Hoong, who stunned the world by winning the event at the World Championships in Hungary last month, is still recovering from a back injury and Zhuliang does not want to aggravate her injury.
“The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo is still the priority. We want them to be in top shape by then.”
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/diving/2017/08/26/all-eyes-on-junior-divers-teens-to-be-paired-with-seniors-in-quest-for-13-golds/#vkxdut1KWrSthvHk.99
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