FORMER world champion Cheong Jun Hoong is set to make her first appearance in two years after confirming her participation for the Malaysia International Online Diving competition.
Jun Hoong's entry in the women's individual 10m platform will add some shine to the field that will also boast top names like Pandelela Rinong and Australia's Olympic medallist Melissa Wu, who is also the reigning Commonwealth Games champion.
The online dive meet, on Dec 5-6, is the first competition in two years for the 30-year-old Jun Hoong who went through knee surgery in 2018.
The Perak-born, who bagged a silver medal with Pandelela in the platform synchro at the 2016 Rio Olympics, is using the tournament to prepare for next year's Diving World Cup in Tokyo.
Malaysia Swimming (MS) secretary Mae Chen is pleased that Jun Hoong is up and ready for the competition.
"We're happy that Jun Hoong will be competing as there are no other events for her to compete in the coming months," said Mae.
"We used to have the GP meets at the start of the year, but now everything has been moved to May, until after the World Cup.
"The earliest events next year are the World Series legs, which Jun Hoong did not qualify.
"So it would be a challenge for Jun Hoong to get some competition, and this online meet would be a great help for her to chase her Olympic dream."
The meet will feature divers under the national programme except for men's platform diver Jellson Jabilin, who is nursing an injury.
It has also attracted divers from New Zealand, Japan and Singapore.
"The women's field will be strong as Australia will have Melissa and Esther Qin, a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the mix," said national coach Christian Brooker.
"Participants will be competing in their respective pools and will also be judged by five FINA certified international judges.
"This is the only way we can have a competition to keep the divers motivated."