No final dive yet

Still going strong: Pandelela Rinong had a poor opening dive but rallied in her next four attempts to claim gold in the national diving trials. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Retirement has not crossed Pandelela Rinong’s mind yet as the Malaysian diving queen insists she still has the desire to compete despite persistent physical challenges.

Pandelela, at 33, proved she remains the country’s top diver in the platform discipline after winning the 10m individual event on the final day of the national diving trials at the National Aquatics Centre in Bukit Jalil.

The two-time Olympic Games medallist finished with 292.05 points ahead of Nur Eilisha Rania Abrar Raj (283.15) and Lee Yiat Qing (266.80). Pandelela, who has been diving for the country for the last two decades, also cleared the 290-point Minimum Qualifying Score (MQS).

Despite a poor opening dive of 46.6 points, she rallied in her next four attempts with scores of 63.00, 56.00, 59.45, and 64.00 to secure victory. Pandelela also cleared the MQS in the 10m synchro event with Yiat Qing, posting 286.38 points.

“I have not thought about it yet (retiring). Right now, I still want to dive and I am still thinking about diving,” she said.

Asked on what keeps her going through the years and how she copes with the physical changes to her body, Pandelela attributed it to will power.

“It’s a mental fight for me and I don’t easily give up on things.”

The former World Championships medallist admitted her performance was not flawless, particularly her opening attempt.

“That first dive was my toughest and most challenging. But I am grateful with my score today after passing the MQS,” she said.

The Sarawak-born Pandelela continues to manage injuries that disrupted her season last year, including a triceps problem that hampered her World Cup and World Championship campaigns.

“It is manageable. I am not fully recovered yet but it is getting better,” she said.

Pandelela’s immediate focus is now on the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya this September.

“I want to focus on the present first. My target is the Asian Games and we will take it one step at a time,” she said.