KUCHING: Diving star Pandelela Rinong Pmg says she is delighted to be training under new national coach Li Rui.
Li arrived in Malaysia early last year, having managed a diving club in Canada besides mentoring Chinese world champions Si Yajie and Qin Kai.
“I have trained under him for about a year and three months, and I think he is a good coach,” said Pandelela, a two-time Olympic medallist.
She added that so far under Li’s guidance, she had been able to maintain her fitness and her performance.
“Since the Tokyo Olympic Games have been postponed to next year, I will definitely have more time to train under him, get to know him better and for him to know the team better as well,” said Pandelela.
On returning to training after a long break, the Sarawakian star said it was tough but not a problem.
Pandelela and her compatriots have been undergoing training under strict standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance at the Bukit Jalil Sports Complex in Kuala Lumpur.
“We cannot go out, just stay in the sports complex all the time but the place is good, the food is good and so far everything is fine,” she said.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Pandelela reckoned that there would be no China camp and exposure competitions this year.
The three-time Olympian said her focus in training right now was on her fitness level as well as strengthening her body.
She qualified for both the 10m platform individual and synchronised, and this will be her fourth Olympics.
She has taken part in the Beijing, London and Rio Games, winning a bronze in London in 2012 and a silver in Rio in 2016.
