KUALA LUMPUR — The national diving squad is set to enter a new phase with the expected appointment of two Russian coaches, as part of a broader effort to strengthen Malaysia’s coaching structure and raise standards on the international stage.
National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Jefri Ngadirin said the move forms part of a long-term plan to build a more sustainable and competitive coaching framework for the country’s divers.
At the same time, he said, efforts are underway to identify suitably qualified local coaches capable of guiding national athletes to compete at a higher level.
The appointment of the Russian coaches will undergo a detailed evaluation and be discussed with the national association during a Working Committee Meeting scheduled for the end of this month.
Commenting on preparations for the upcoming Asian Games, Jefri assured that changes within the coaching set-up would not disrupt the athletes’ focus, as centralised training for the core group had already begun last year.
“The coaching line-up for the Asian Games is secure, as we completed competency and performance assessments last year in collaboration with the National Coaching Academy,” he said when contacted.
He stressed that all coaches are bound by clearly defined key performance indicators (KPIs), and failure to meet the set targets would have consequences for their positions within the national set-up.
Jefri added that the NSC’s priority is to ensure future coaching appointments are aligned with athletes who have the potential to deliver gold medals, particularly in the lead-up to the 2027 SEA Games.
Previously, Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) decided not to renew the contracts of Chinese diving coach siblings Li Jun Bai and Li Jun Song after they failed to meet the KPIs set for the 2025 season. – February 7, 2026