KUCHING: Sarawak’s reigning SEA Games diving champion Kimberly Bong Qian Ping 21, has quit the national diving team leaving behind an impressive past track records which include the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games, the World championships and the Youth Olympics.
Bong, whose career was blighted by shoulder and hip injuries, will turn 22 in July and will not be competing in the Sarawak Malaysia Games (SUKMA) team this August but did not cite her reason except to say that she had looked back on her illustrious career of 15 years and enjoyed every moment of it.
Her potential to succeed at the highest level was underlined when she participated in the Youth Olympics held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2018.
She was also in the national team to take part in the Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham in the United Kingdom and the Asian Games held in Hangzhou in the same year in 2022.
Bong also participated in the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast Australia in 2018 and was placed 10th position in the 10m platform event.
Last year she won a gold medal in the SEA Games in the 3m springboard and combined with Ong Ker Ying in the scychronized event to win the first ever silver medal at the World University Games.
At the SUKMA 2016 held in Sarawak, she won only a silver medal and made amends at the SUKMA 2018 held in Perak where despite a hip injury she won gold.
National diving director Bryan Nickson Lomas commented that Kimberly did not make it to the Olympics as she only competed in the Doha world championships in the non-Olympic event the 1m board.
“She said she no longer enjoy diving which was her reason for quitting the sport.
“She, at 21, will not be competing in SUKMA and she will be continuing her studies in the university.
Bryan Nickson, who is from Sarawak, and Kimberly’s retirement from diving is definitely a loss as the Sarawak diver is equally adept at the springboard and the 10m platform – an event which is most difficult and short of potential divers for that event.
“We will speed up their programme as he will be going to the states soon to scout for talents.
Sarawak still have a few divers under the national training programme which include Kimberly’s former SUKMA synchronised teammate Elisha Rania Abrial Rajagopal , Olympic medalists Datuk Pandelela Rinong Pamg, Priestly Clement, Jared Aden Harold, with Bertrand Rhodict Lises having qualified for the Paris Olympics to be held in July 26 to Aug 11.
