Coach wants Rio-bound divers based in China to avoid VIPs, media

Malaysia's diver Pandelela Rinong finished at the 7th place with 309.35 points after competing in women's 10m platform final during the 17th Asian Games at the Munhak Park Tae-Hwan Aquatics Center on Thursday. IZZRAFIQ ALIAS / The Star. October 2, 2014.

PETALING JAYA: The fear of distractions has forced national diving coach Yang Zhuliang to request for the divers to be allowed to set up base in China until the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

Zhuliang was forced to call off plans to train in Kuching, Sarawak last month after the divers were distracted by the local media. The divers were in Kuching to test the newly-built Sarawak Aquatics Centre ahead of the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in July.