KUCHING, Feb 17: National diver Datuk Pandelela Rinong Pamg has clarified that the ‘issues’ she mentioned were related to training, not any ‘entity’ or ‘third party’.
In a Facebook post today, Pandelela said the misreporting on the ‘issue’ has caused speculation and misunderstanding.
According to her, she has spent the days since returning home meeting up with relevant sectors to explain herself.
“I do not have any other platforms to clear this to the public and, therefore, have decided to make this decision to clear the air once and for all. I hope this matter will finally be put to rest,” she said.
Pandelela said that athletes train hard daily just so they can show the result of their hard work at important competitions, feel their losses 1,000 times more than anyone, and beat themselves down for mistakes harder than those hurled at them.
But as athletes, she said, they also learn tenacity, the ability to get up and go again.
“I still have a lot of fight and passion for diving, and I shall pick myself up from this and go again.
“When it is time for me to hang up my hat, I shall also do so graciously as how all other athletes before me have,” she added.
Previously, Pandelela, in a Facebook post on Feb 12, apologised to Malaysians for her failure to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics despite her best efforts at the Doha World Aquatics Championship.
According to various media reports, Pandelela, when met by reporters upon the diving squad’s return from Doha at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on the same day, claimed that there was an interference that affected the performance of senior and junior divers.
In response, Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) secretary-general Andy Low was quoted as suggesting that Pandelela’s remarks were merely an attempt to justify the team’s failure in Doha.
On Feb 14, Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurs Development Sarawak Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah condemned Low’s remark on Pandelela, saying it is inappropriate.
On Feb 16, Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan called for Low’s resignation over his remarks against Pandelela.
Following that, Dewan Negara Senator Abun Sui Anyit today (Feb 17) urges MAS to resolve the issues internally. — DayakDaily
