KUALA LUMPUR: With an eye on the Commonwealth Games in Australia next year, national diving coach Yang Zhuliang has brought almost all his divers to the Gold Coast leg of the FINA Grand Prix which starts on Friday.
Zhuliang said the competition will play an important part in their preparation for the Commonwealth Games which will also be held at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.
"All the divers are here except for Wendy Ng and Traisy Vivien Tukiet. Traisy has to attend university and was unable to make it," said Zhuliang, who arrived with the squad in Gold Coast on Tuesday.
"I think it is very important for all the divers to try the pool and the facilities.
"The weather can also be very cold so it is imperative that they get used to the conditions here, the Commonwealth Games is a very big event so we need to be well prepared."
Wendy is provisionally suspended after testing positive for the banned substance sibutramine at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games in August.
Zhuliang disclosed that he will continue to field Cheong Jun Hoong in the 10m platform mixed synchro alongside Jellson Jabillin. The duo won gold in the event at the KL leg of the Grand Prix last month.
Jun Hoong has not been competing in the 10m platform individual of late, the event she won at the World Championships this year in Budapest, due to a nagging lower back injury.
Zhuliang added that Nur Dhabitah Sabri and Jasmine Lai will compete in the 3m springboard individual event and will likely pair up for the synchro as well. Dhabitah had previously partnered Wendy.
Pandelela Rinong and Leong Mun Yee delivered Malaysia's only other gold at the KL GP in the 10m platform synchro though it is unclear whether their partnership will continue with Kimberly Bong being an option for Zhuliang.
Malaysia ended the competition with two gold, four silver and one bronze to rank third overall and will look to better that in Australia this week.
Gold Coast GP squad:
Men's: Ooi Tze Liang, Ahmad Amsyar Azman, Chew Yiwei, Jellson Jabillin and Syafiq Puteh.
Women's: Pandelela Rinong, Leong Mun Yee, Cheong Jun Hoong, Nur Dhabitah Sabri, Jasmine Lai, Kimberly Bong.