KUALA LUMPUR: Practice makes perfect for Nur Dhabitah Sabri as the hours spent on ironing out her dives from the platform board proved to be useful in yesterday's Sea Games opening ceremony at National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Dhabitah created history by becoming the first Malaysian woman athlete to light up the cauldron which was the highlight in the opening ceremony.
The 18-year-old revealed that she was not nervous when she was hoisted high in the air to light up the cauldron.
"I felt like I was 'Superwoman'. It was an honour to be chosen as the final person to carry the torch," said Dhabitah yesterday.
"The opportunity also gave me a chance to meet all the sports legends during the ceremony.”
Dhabitah, a finalist in the women's 10m platform event at last year's Rio Olympics, said she did not inform her parents that she would be lighting up the cauldron.
"I could not tell them as it was to be a secret. My parents, who were in the stadium, must have been surprised when I was lifted in the air," she said.
Dhabitah is eager and ready to win gold medals in the diving competition, which starts on Aug 26, at the ongoing Sea Games.
She will partner reigning world 10m platform individual champion Cheong Jun Hoong in the 3m springboard synchro event.
Dhabitah has also been entered for the 10m platform and 3m springboard individual disciplines.
"I have won gold medals in the synchro events at the two previous Sea Games, but did not managed it in the individual disciplines.
"I will try my best this time and make this opportunity count to win all my events," Dhabitah added.
Dhabitah won the platform synchro gold in the 2013 Myanmar edition with Leong Mun Yee and repeated her act in the springboard synchro in Singapore two years ago with Wendy Ng.