PETALING JAYA: It will be another feather in the cap for diver Pandelela Rinong if she is picked as the Malaysian flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the London Olympics on July 27.
Pandelela is tipped to become the first Malaysian woman athlete to have the honour of leading the contingent out at the Olympics.
It has always been the men in previous Games since the nation’s first participation in Melbourne 1956 and world No. 1 shuttler Chong Wei could, perhaps, have carried on the tradition had he not injured his ankle last month.
Chong Wei could go into action the day after the opening ceremony depending on the fixtures and that may be a reason for not considering him.
Strong candidate: Pandelela is now in the final lap of Olympic preparation in China. The schedule permits Pandelela to do the honours as the 19-year-old is only scheduled to compete with Cheong Jun Hoong in the women’s 3m springboard synchro on July 29.
The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and chef de-mission Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid will jointly decide on the choice of the flag bearer but Pandelela, the Sportswoman of the Year, is certainly in the driving seat as she has achieved many milestones in her sport.
Diver Bryan Nickson Lomas was only 14 when he bore the flag in Athens 2004, the youngest athlete at the Games.
It was another young emerging talent, cyclist Azizulhasni Awang, who carried the flag at the last Olympics in Beijing.
Pandelela is likely to be Malaysia’s flag bearer in London. He was only 20 but was already the reigning Asian champion for keirin.
Pandelela, who finished runner-up in the four-leg World Diving Series behind Olympic cham- pion Chen Ruolin of China, said she would be honoured if picked but she has yet to hear any- thing.
“It will be great if it’s true. But my bigger concern now is to prepare well and stay injury-free,” said Pandelela, who is already set to make headlines as the only diver to compete in three disciplines in London.
She is also down for the women’s 10m platform individual and synchro with Leong Mun Yee.
Pandelela has already experienced leading the Malaysian contingent at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore two years ago.
She made the country proud as the only medal winner with two silvers, in the 3m springboard and 10m platform, there.
Pandelela, who is currently training in China, is praying that history will repeat itself and she can bring home a historic Olympic medal if she does carry the flag in London next month.
THE STAR
Pandelela is tipped to become the first Malaysian woman athlete to have the honour of leading the contingent out at the Olympics.
It has always been the men in previous Games since the nation’s first participation in Melbourne 1956 and world No. 1 shuttler Chong Wei could, perhaps, have carried on the tradition had he not injured his ankle last month.
Chong Wei could go into action the day after the opening ceremony depending on the fixtures and that may be a reason for not considering him.
Strong candidate: Pandelela is now in the final lap of Olympic preparation in China. The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and chef de-mission Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid will jointly decide on the choice of the flag bearer but Pandelela, the Sportswoman of the Year, is certainly in the driving seat as she has achieved many milestones in her sport.
Diver Bryan Nickson Lomas was only 14 when he bore the flag in Athens 2004, the youngest athlete at the Games.
It was another young emerging talent, cyclist Azizulhasni Awang, who carried the flag at the last Olympics in Beijing.
Pandelela is likely to be Malaysia’s flag bearer in London.Pandelela, who finished runner-up in the four-leg World Diving Series behind Olympic cham- pion Chen Ruolin of China, said she would be honoured if picked but she has yet to hear any- thing.
“It will be great if it’s true. But my bigger concern now is to prepare well and stay injury-free,” said Pandelela, who is already set to make headlines as the only diver to compete in three disciplines in London.
She is also down for the women’s 10m platform individual and synchro with Leong Mun Yee.
Pandelela has already experienced leading the Malaysian contingent at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore two years ago.
She made the country proud as the only medal winner with two silvers, in the 3m springboard and 10m platform, there.
Pandelela, who is currently training in China, is praying that history will repeat itself and she can bring home a historic Olympic medal if she does carry the flag in London next month.
THE STAR
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