NEWLY crowned world champion Cheong Jun Hoong is having acupuncture treatment for her back injury as the diver races against time to feature in the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games.
Tentatively, national coach Yang Zhuliang has entered Jun Hoong for the women's 1m springboard and 10m platform individual events, where 13 gold medals will be offered in the KL edition.
Zhuliang said Jun Hoong is on several rehabilitation treatments, including daily massage and acupuncture.
“We have a specially-assigned physiotherapist to attend to Jun Hoong's injury. Acupunture is not something new as our divers are regularly on it to treat injuries,” said Zhuliang when contacted in Dongguan, China yesterday.
“Acupunture has saved the careers of several divers in my team in the past. Injuries are common in diving and alternative measures are normally used to help in my divers' recovery process.”
Jun Hoong etched her name in history books by becoming Malaysia's first ever world champion in diving in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday.
Despite carrying a back injury, she upset reigning Olympic champion Ren Qian and Si Yajie for the 10m platform individual title.
The Perak-born Jun Hoong and Pandelela also paired up for the bronze medal in the platform synchro event.
“Based on the physiotherapist report, Jun Hoong is responding well to treatment and is getting better.
“The diver is on a regimented rehabilitation schedule. At this stage, she is 80 per cent sure of featuring in the Sea Games.
“However, if there are uncertainties over Jun Hoong's condition, I will not allow her to compete as she is being prepared for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” Zhuliang added.
For the record, KL2017 will be Jun Hoong's eighth Sea Games outing. The only time she did not win a Sea Games medal was the 2009 Laos edition.
In total, Jun Hoong has won six gold, one silver and three bronze medals in the Sea Games. However, none of her gold medals were from the platform individual event.