Pandelela And Mun Yee Hope To Qualify For 10m Platform Synchronized Diving On Merit

KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysian divers Pandelela Rinong and Leong Mun Yee hope to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics 10m Platform Synchronized diving on merit, to enhance Malaysia's medal chances. Though Pandelela has already qualified for the Olympics in the 10m Platform individual event, she hopes to feature in the 10m Platform Synchronized as well, with her partner Mun Yee who has yet to qualify. The duo will have a great opportunity to do so at the FINA Diving World Cup in London, early next year. Pandelela, 18, who qualified for the London Olympics after finishing among the top 12 divers in the world at the FINA World Diving Championships in Shanghai, China last week, admitted that she and Mun Yee were determined to qualify for the Olympics since it would further boost chances of winning medals in London. She expressed confidence that her partner Mun Yee, 27, would surpass the qualifying mark to earn a ticket to London. "Our chances of winning a medal is better in the 10m platform Synchronized diving compared with my favourite event, the 10m Platform individual, since China will only be sending one pair compared with the individual event where we will have to compete against two Chinese divers. "We have to seize the opportunity to qualify for the 10m Platform Synchronized event. If not it will hamper of medal hopes," Pandelela told Bernama when met in Bukit Jalil today. Pandelela who will be competing in her second Olympics after having featured in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said the divers from China would be the main obstacle in London. "Diving is a subjective sport but China have a firm monopoly in the men and women competitions. With such a reputation, they will always be able to influence the jury and may have a slight advantage over others. The Sarawakian who will be making her debut at the World University Games (Universiade) in Shenzhen, China later this month said she has not set any specific target for the Universiade. After the Universiade, she would continue her training under Chinese coach Yang Zhu Liang, to prepare for the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia in November.