TANJUNG MALIM: After stepping back following her retirement, Malaysia's only world champion diver, Cheong Jun Hoong, is willing to help rebuild the national diving team.
Jun Hoong, who retired in January 2022, gained attention in 2017 when she won the women's 10m platform world title in Budapest, Hungary.
The 34-year-old's other major achievement was winning an Olympic silver with Pandelela Rinong in the platform synchro event at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
However, Jun Hoong said she has yet to seriously consider returning to the sport as a coach, as her focus now is on completing her studies in communications at a local institution.
"I'd be lying if I said I don't miss it (diving). It's just that right now I am not thinking about becoming a coach. But once I've completed my studies, I might give it a shot if there is an opening.
"I am always open to opportunities and ready to serve the country, which has helped me become a world champion. But, for now, I want to try many things that I never could when I was an athlete," she said when met by Bernama on Saturday.
Commenting on the performance of the current national divers, she admitted there has been a dip in their achievements, describing it as normal.
"I am sure they will bounce back, courtesy of the ongoing programmes and training sessions being carried out by the coaches," she said. – BERNAMA