MEXICO, CANADA TESTS HOLD KEY TO PANDELELA'S BEIJING BASH - KEN NEE

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- New national diving technical director Yeoh Ken Nee is keeping his fingers crossed that Datuk Pandelela Rinong can kickstart the new season in grand style by qualifying for the 2025 Diving World Cup Super Final in Beijing in May.

He said that Pandelela, whose last competitive appearance was in the 2024 Malaysia Open last November, must finish among the top 12 in the women's 10-metre (m) platform event in Guadalajara, Mexico (April 3-6) and Windsor, Canada (April 10-13) to qualify for the May 2-4 grand finale in Beijing.

“I hope Pandelela can perform well and can go to Beijing. She has been maintaining her performance levels and, so far, it's looking good for her.

“It is important for her to go to Beijing because it will definitely help her rebuild her reputation,” he told Bernama.

Last year, the two-time Olympic Games medallist had a season to forget after missing out on the 2024 Paris Olympics following a disappointing outing at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha.

Ken Nee said the 32-year-old Pandelela will be accompanied by Enrique Maccartney Harold in Guadalajara.

However, Sarawakian Enrique will not be making the trip to Windsor due to visa issues.

As such, Ken Nee has thrown down the gauntlet to the Sarawakian to prove his mettle by fighting for a place in the men’s 10m platform final.

Despite performing well locally, Ken Nee said Enrique hasn’t quite been able to replicate that success on the international stage.

“So, I think it's either he's too nervous, stressed, doesn't know how to prepare himself properly internationally or simply distracted. There are a lot of possibilities.

“The more he competes, the more he needs to understand because he'll be competing with the same competitors, just at different venues. =

"At the end of the day, it’s up to him to figure it out because we’ve done our best, the coach has done his best and it’s time for him to take charge,” he said.

-- BERNAMA