National Divers All Primed For Beijing

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- The country's divers are all primed for the Beijing Olympic Games, which is only 10 days away.

Bryan Nickson Lomas, who made the semi-finals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, said he hoped to do better this time around following a month-long training stint in China.

"The China stint helped me focus on my training without any distractions," he told reporters after attending a sponsorship event at the Olympic Council of Malaysia's office here today. At the function, shoe manufacturer BATA sponsored the sports shoes to be worn by the national athletes at the Beijing Olympics.

Lomas urged Malaysians to pray for the national divers' success.

For Leong Mun Yee, who has taken part in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the Athens Games, she said that she had gone through intensive training for Beijing and was now concentrating on last minute preparations.

"I hope to improve on my performance at Athens," she said.

As for Pandelela Rinong anak Pamg, who will be making her Olympics debut in Beijing, she said being a first-timer, she was rather nervous but would give her best.

Bryan is the country's sole men's representative in diving and will be competing in the 10m platform while Mun Yee, Pandelela and another national diver Elizabeth Jimie will compete in the women's 3m platform.

They are scheduled to leave for Beijing with the national swimmers and archers on Aug 3.



-- BERNAMA