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Triple in the ripple? Triple in the ripple? Chance for Pandelela to be first diver to achieve hattrick

By LIMTEIKHUAT Pandelela: 'I just PETALING JAYA: ItwUlbea histo­ focus on what I ry-defining Olympics for in-form always do in my if the diver can training and just rise above the pressure in at think about the the end of this month. present. I don't ' Pandelela, the newly crowned want to think about World Cup platform cham­ the future.' - AFP pion, will join an elite club of Malaysian athletes to compete in four Olympics when the diving competition starts on July 25. The other members are retired shuttier , sailor Kevin Lim, track cyclist and teammate Leong Mun Yee, who is bound for a record fifth appearance. As the only Malaysian diver entered for two events, Pandelela has a shot at becoming the first Malaysian diver to stand on the Olympic podium three times. The first of two chances will come when she partners Mun Yee in the women's 10m platform synchro on July 27 and then the individual plat­ form on Aug 4. Pandelela only placed 28th in her Olympics debut at Beijing 2008 but it was the springboard to an illustri­ ous career on the international stage. It was in London four years later first-ever Diving World Cup gold to achieve more,“ said the 28-year- training under quarantine where she would claim a landmark medal in May and will be looking to old in an interview with the 2020 restrictions in Bukit Jalil for the bronze medal in the 10m platform get rewarded again in her second Games website ofympics.com past one year. individual, making her the first return to Tokyo in three months. recently. “The country has been under Malaysian female athlete to do so. “It gave me a boost of motivation. “I do what I always do, I'm lockdown many times already. Pandelela stepped up again with I know what I need to improve on already used to this pressure. “It's like the third time and it a silver medal in the 10m synchro -(I know) my weakness - to make UI just focus on what I always really is challenging because it platform in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 me better in the Olympics. do in my training and just think affects our training, it affects our with . “I know that the expectations of about the present. I don't want to competition. The silver is the best outing for Malaysians are very high this time think about the future.” “But all in all, as athletes, its our in diving at the Games. around. Like the rest of the Tokyo- job to just continue training and Pandelela bagged Malaysia's “They just want you to do better, bound athletes, Pandelela is also to give our best.”