MAS looks to reassign divers in a bid to strengthen springboard department
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) is looking to encourage senior women's national platform divers to switch to the springboard discipline due to a shortage of strong talent in the latter.
MAS diving technical director Yeoh Ken Nee said there is currently an imbalance of talent in the women's squad.
Traditionally, the platform discipline has delivered more medals for Malaysia in global competitions such as the Olympics and the World Championships through divers such as Pandelela Rinong, Cheong Jun Hoong and Datuk Leong Mun Yee.
"We have to admit that we currently don't have strong female divers in the springboard discipline," said Ken Nee recently.
"We have more female divers coming through the ranks in the platform at the moment.
"So we are looking to encourage senior divers, who may no longer wish to compete in the platform, to consider switching to the springboard.
Ken Nee added that switching to the springboard discipline, which places a lesser physical strain on the body, could help extend the careers of the senior divers.
He, however, stressed youth development remains a priority across both disciplines.
"At least they (seniors) can continue their careers in the springboard," said Ken Nee.
"But at the same time we are also pushing for young divers development to ensure we have a more even distribution of talent across the two disciplines in the future."
On a separate note, Ken Nee said Elvis Priestly Clement-Enrique Maccartney Harold have essentially secured their spot in the squad for the Singapore World Championships (July 11-Aug 3).
The duo dominated the field at the recent National Diving Trials on Saturday (May 10) in the men's 10m platform synchronised event.
They clinched gold on a six-dive total of 400.11 which comfortably exceeded MAS's Minimum Qualifying Standard (MQS) of 360 points.
"They've surpassed the MQS more than three times, so they are certainly qualified to represent the country at the World Championships," said Ken Nee.
"However, we still need to deliberate with the diving committee before finalising the squad for Singapore."
To put their achievement into perspective, their score would have secured fourth place at last year's World Championships in Doha and sixth at the Paris Olympics.
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