THE Wuhan coronavirus outbreak has wrecked the national diving team’s preparation for the World Cup in April as divers, who were based in Chengdu, China, had to return to Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail disclosed that the divers felt worried and uneasy in China despite the safety measures taken at their training centre in Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province.
Amid the spectre of the coronavirus, the NSC have also cancelled all current training stints for the divers and athletes in other sports in China.
Those who trained in Chengdu were two-time Olympic champion Pandelela Rinong, Wendy Ng, Leong Mun Yee, Kimberly Bong and Enrique Harold.
Pandelela and Mun Yee were initially supposed to come back to Malaysia tomorrow, while Wendy, Kimberly and Enrique were scheduled to return only on Feb 13.
Cheong Jun Hoong is still at her training base in Qinhuangdao, the port city of the northeastern Hebei province, under former national coach Yang Zhuliang.
The former world champion, however, will decide in a few days whether she should immediately return to KL. Her return flight is only on March 14.
NSC’s decision to bring back the divers is timely as the World Health Organisation on Thursday declared the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency.
“It is not a directive from any organisation. The divers were worried and uncomfortable, and they made it known to us,” said Shapawi yesterday.
“We immediately booked the next flight out of Chengdu for the five divers. They wanted to return as the outbreak in China is showing no sign of slowing down.
“It is also the Olympic year and we do not want our divers to be exposed to the virus although safety measures were taken in Chengdu.”
On Jun Hoong’s return to KL, Shapawi said the council are in constant contact with the diver.
“She and Zhuliang are the only ones left at their centre in Qinhuangdao. The security is tight as nobody is allowed in and out of the centre.
“The diver wants to complete her training programme first before speaking to her coach on the possibility of returning in the next few days.”
Asked whether Jun Hoong will train under Zhuliang after she returns to KL, Shapawi said: “It has not been discussed yet. Let her decide whether she wants to return earlier and then from there we will look into her training plans.”
Shapawi added: “All immediate training plans in China will be halted until the situation gets better.
“The divers were initially supposed to renew their visas on their return to KL and then go back to China. However, we have to forgo that plan for now.”
The World Cup in Tokyo in April offers 18 Olympic spots in each individual event.
However, Jun Hoong’s participation in the World Cup will depend on how she does against Pandelela and Nur Dhabitah in a trial scheduled in March in Bukit Jalil. Only two platform individual slots are available for the World Cup.
Shapawi said: “The trial will be organised by the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia and independent judges will be called in to evaluate the divers.”