Mun Yee aims to hit peak form before flying to Tokyo

Hitting form: Leong Mun Yee (right) and Pandelela Rinong will compete in the 10m synchronised platform at the Tokyo Olympics. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: National diver Leong Mun Yee believes that she can reach peak form before the start of the Olympics on July 23.

With about three weeks left before Tokyo lifts its curtains to the world’s biggest multi-sports event, 36-year-old Mun Yee opined that the high intensity training she is undergoing at the National Aquatics Centre, Bukit Jalil, is bearing fruit as she now feels better than ever before.

Mun Yee is set to feature in the women’s 10m synchronised platform event in Tokyo with Rio de Janeiro 2016 silver medallist Pandelela Rinong.

“After three weeks I hope I’ll be better than now... I believe I’ll be in top condition by then,” she told a virtual press conference yesterday.

Mun Yee and Pandelela secured their tickets to Tokyo after winning a silver medal in the women’s 10m synchronised platform by accumulating 312.72 points at the 18th FINA World Diving Championships in Gwangju, South Korea in July 2019.

In the meantime, the four-time Olympian is hopeful of bagging a medal in what would be her last Olympics appearance.

“My coach, Li Rui also wishes that I will get a medal with Pandelela,” she added.

The Ipoh-born athlete said it was not easy to make it to the Olympic Games for four times, but her perseverance and hard work paid off since taking up diving at the age of 10.

Coach Li Rui said the training camp is progressing well so far, as his divers have achieved 80% of preparation level.

Li Rui said he’s confident that Malaysian divers, based on performance and strength in training, will be among the medallists at the Games. However they have to be wary of athletes from other countries who might challenge them to step on the podium.

Apart from Mun Yee and Pandelela, three other divers who have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics are Cheong Jun Hoong (10m individual platform), Nur Dhabitah Sabri (3m individual springboard) and Wendy Ng Yan Yee (3m individual springboard). — Bernama