Hoping to shine: Syafiq Puteh (top) may be paired with Wendy Ng for the Commonwealth Games mixed synchro 3m springboard event. — Reuters
PETALING JAYA: Diver Syafiq Puteh will have to separated from his precious little princess Nuraisya Zulaikha but he is hoping the sacrifice will pay off with a breakthrough Commonwealth Games medal.
Syafiq feels like he’s already missing his two-year-old daughter as he and his teammates go through the final stage of centralised training for the Commonwealth Games and will be leaving for Birmingham at the end of the month.
The diving competition will be held from Aug 4-8 and Syafiq is bracing to play a bigger role for Malaysia this time in his second Commonwealth Games appearance.
Syafiq was only entered for the men’s 1m springboard individual event at the last Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, in 2018 where he finished fifth.
However, Syafiq is likely to be fielded for the men’s 3m springboard individual and also the mixed synchro 3m springboard.
The 22-year-old may be paired with either Wendy Ng or Nur Dhabitah Sabri for the mixed synchro 3m springboard event, which is making its Commonwealth Games debut in diving.
Syafiq partnered Wendy to finish seventh in the mixed synchro 3m springboard at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest recently.
“The world championships was a positive one for me as I was able to identify my weaknesses.
“This is the first time the Commonwealth Games diving competition has mixed pair events and I think we have a good chance of getting on the podium.
“I’m training hard with the team and I’m away from my family. It is painful especially as my first-born child is just two and always looks for me. And now I have to be away again for two to three weeks.
“I really hope I can get a medal, which will make it all worthwhile,” said the Perak-born diver, who splashed to his first individual SEA Games gold medal when he won the 3m springboard event in Vietnam in May.
Syafiq said he is okay being paired up with either Wendy or Dhabitah.
“Let the coaches decide. Both of them are experienced divers. Our aim is just to give our best.
“The hardest part of diving is being consistent and we are working on this area.
“I especially need to work on improving my entry,” said Syafiq, who expects England, Scotland, Australia and Canada to be the strong contenders in diving.
The last Malaysian male diver to make the podium at the Commonwealth Games was Ooi Tze Liang when he won gold in the 3m springboard individual and silver in the 10m platform individual.
At the last Games in Gold Coast, Malaysia bagged one gold and two bronzes. The gold came from Pandelela Rinong-Cheong Jun Hoong in the women’s 10m platform synchro.
Leong Mun Yee also splashed to two bronze medals with Nur Dhabitah in the women’s 10m platform synchro and the 3m springboard synchro.
