WHEN you are a diver from the same state as Olympian Pandelela Rinong, you are expected to be somebody.
And Eilisha Rania Abrial Rajagopal is living up to such expectations.
Aptly, Eilisha swept both the categories in the Malaysian Schools Sport Council (MSSM) aquatics championships at Tuanku Zara Aquatics Complex in Ipoh on March 25-27.
Eilisha never expected to reach this level.
Eilisha recalled that she used to admire the senior divers at the State Aquatics Centre in Petrajaya when she was just a beginner, learning to dive in the adjacent children’s swimming pool.
Never in her wildest dreams, did she expect to be a champion diver herself one day, representing Sarawak, a powerhouse in the sport.
The 14-year-old from SMK Tabuan Jaya found herself hailed as the new diving princess of Sarawak after winning the 1m and 3m springboard events.
In doing so, she has joined Sarawak’s elite group of divers like Gracie Juanita Terry Pega, Rosatimah Muhammad, Elizabeth Jimie, Pandelela Rinong Pamg Joheng and Traisy Vivien Tukit Jen.
“All the hard work and long hours of training in the diving pool have paid off in Ipoh today,” she said.
Soh Tze Kang emerged as Sarawak’s best performer in the boys event when he won the Under-12 1m gold and the 3m bronze.
The year six pupil of SJKC Chung Hua No. 5 from Kuching trains from Monday to Saturday from 2.30pm to 7.30pm for the past five year under coach Carlysle Chan Wee Chiek.
At the MSSM, Sarawak garnered three gold, two silver and two bronze but in the previous year in Melaka, they did better, bagging four gold, one silver and two bronze.
Rosatimah Muhammad, a 2001 KL Sea Games gold medallist who has been Sarawak state coach since 2008, said: “The competition is getting tougher by the year, but Sarawak is still holding on to the overall diving champions’ title.”
She said Sarawak has a new head coach in Shi Yang from China who was appointed in February this year. Shi Yang replaced compatriot Xiao Xia who left in March last year.
Sarawak’s other coaches are Carlysle Chan and Wesley Inyau Wella. The annual talent identification programme for 20 pupils from five schools around Kuching is conducted by state coaches twice a year in Febraury and June.
The shortlisted 10 children out of the 100 will be groomed for the springboard and platform for the state junior back-up squad based on their physique, flexibility, talent, skill and potential
“We have lined up the next group for the national back-up team namely Eilisha, Bertrand Rhodict Enrique Maccartney and pint sized Elvis Presley.”