PETALING JAYA: Diver Pandelela Rinong has to tread with caution when she makes the plunge at the Incheon Asian Games next month as her recent knee injury is more serious than thought.
Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) secretary Edwin Chong revealed Pandelela almost tore a ligament when she sprained her left knee while training in Guangzhou last month just before the World Cup in Shanghai and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Given her condition and the fact she is still on light training, Pandelela is likely to be confined to doing only the two 10m platform events (individual and synchro) in Incheon.
“It is unlikely she can do the 3m springboard synchro.
“We only have a short time before the Games starts and a diver who is in this condition needs time to rest and allow the injury to heal.
“One needs to put a lot of pressure on the knees when you perform on the springboard and we cannot aggravate the injury further,” said Edwin.
The London Olympic bronze medallist only took part in the 10m platform individual at the World Cup after scratching the 10m platform synchro and 3m springboard synchro.
Pandelela did not compete in the 3m springboard synchro event in Glasgow but she managed to take bronze with Nur Dhabitah Sabri in the 10m platform synchro.
The 20-year-old failed in her bid to retain her 10m platform individual title after messing her fifth and final dive to allow Canada’s Meaghan Benfeito to come out tops.
Pandelela is likely to resume her 10m platform synchro partnership with Leong Mun Yee when the Asian Games diving competition starts on Sept 29.
The diving squad for the Asian Games will likely comprise three men (Ooi Tze Liang, Ahmad Amsyar and Chew Yiwei) and six women divers (Pandelela, Mun Yee, Dhabitah, Cheong Jun Hoong, Wendy Ng Yan Yee and Loh Zhiayi).
Malaysia will also have representation in swimming and in the duet discipline in synchronised swimming in Incheon but Edwin added the final decision lies with the Olympic Council of Malaysia.
At the last Asian Games, Malaysia finished as the second best country behind China in the diving competition with five silvers and four bronzes.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
