KUALA LUMPUR – The remarks made by Malaysia Swimming secretary-general Andy Low regarding national diver Datuk Pandelela Rinong have sparked controversy, drawing criticism from a Sarawak minister.
Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the state’s youth, sports and entrepreneur development minister, lauded Pandelela for her outstanding achievements in diving on the global stage.
“For Pandelela to reach that level is not easy, (it) needs strong physical and mental strength and daily training.
“To say Pandelela only wants to earn a salary, I feel she can make more based on her experience and become a coach.
“No need for officials to belittle athletes,” he told reporters in Kuching today, Bernama reported.
According to reports, Pandelela attributed the disappointing performance of the national diving team at the recent World Aquatics Championships in Doha to an issue within the team, which led to their failure to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In response, Andy Low was quoted as suggesting that Pandelela’s remarks were merely an attempt to justify the team’s shortcomings in Doha.
He emphasised that the diving federation had not been made aware of any issues prior to or during the championships. – February 14, 2024