IT takes nerves of steel to become world champions. And this is something lacking in the national diving team.
But thankfully, national coach Christian Brooker has a solution for it.
When asked by reporters after the Asian Cup in Bukit Jalil on Sunday, the Australian-born said: “We need to get a psychologist to help some of our divers to maximise their potential.
“These divers have no issues hitting their dives under pressure in practice, but when they get to competitions they let their minds wander and they start thinking about things which are out of their control. This is something we need to work on,” said Brooker.
In the Asian Cup, Chew Yiwei was forced to settle for second in the men’s 3m springboard after losing focus and botching his penultimate dive in the final while compatriot Ooi Tze Liang took third spot.
It was a huge blow for Yiwei as he could have qualified for next year’s Tokyo Olympics had he won the event.
Brooker is confident, however, that both Malaysians will qualify for the Olympics through the World Cup in Tokyo in April.
“They (Yiwei and Tze Liang) were just a few points within each other.
“I don’t think they will have any problem qualifying via the World Cup. Based on how they performed here, they will easily qualify in April.
“As for Jellson Jabillin and Hanis Nazirul Jaya Surya, we are looking to build up their quality in the 10m platform event.
“The goal is to raise their dive difficulties ahead of the World Cup.”
In the Asian Cup, Japan’s Ken Terauchi (men’s 3m springboard), Singapore’s Jonathan Chan (10m platform), Malaysia’s Nur Dhabitah Sabri (women’s 3m springboard) and North Korea’s Kim Mi-rae (10m platform) won their respective events to seal Olympic spots.