PETALING JAYA: “Twenty two years in diving and I think it’s time for me to enter a new chapter,” that’s the parting words of Malaysia’s only world diving champion Cheong Jun Hoong.
The experienced Jun Hoong is the second Malaysian to quit competitive diving in the last one week after Leong Mun Yee. Both athletes come from Perak and have certainly achieved a lot of firsts for Malaysia.
Jun Hoong, who took to social media to announce her retirement yesterday, said she remained committed to making a name for Malaysia in diving but also had to accept the fact that her contract was not renewed by the National Sports Council (NSC).
Ipoh-born Jun Hoong entered the history books when she became the first Malaysian to win a world championships title in diving by capturing the 10m individual platform gold in the 2017 edition in Budapest.
Jun Hoong, however, has found it hard to get back to her best since a knee surgery in 2018.
She went back to her former coach Yang Zhuliang in her attempt to make a third Olympics appearance in Tokyo. She did qualify despite two years out in the cold, but it turned out to be her last major event as she failed to progress beyond the preliminary round.
The lack of results in the last two years led to her being dropped from the Podium Programme recently as NSC was forced to reduce the number of athletes after the government did not make sufficient allocations for able bodied sports under the 2022 budget.
“My desire is there but I have to accept my failure to do well at the Tokyo Olympics with an open heart,” she said.
“I went for my second surgery in September of 2018 and have been focusing on rehabilitation after that. I faced numerous obstacles to return to competition after that but I put up a brave front as I wanted to do my best at the Olympics.
“I tried my best and I certainly regret not being able to give my best performance in the competition.
“I made this decision with a heavy heart but I want to record my appreciation to NSC, Youth and Sports Ministry and the Olympic Council of Malaysia. Without their support, I would not have been what I am now.
“I also want to say thank you to National Sports Institute for their support for me through medical assistance, physio and recovery and psychology counselling.
“Thanks everyone for their wishes, support and friendship throughout my journey in my diving career,” said the 2017 National Sportswoman of the Year award winner.
Source: The Star
