FIGHTER: Defeat is not a word she understands
IT was the kind of injury that ends careers. That ends dreams.
For Cheong Jun Hoong, it was only one more obstacle to overcome in her quest to become a successful national diver.
It was only six years ago that Jun Hoong was in tears while watching her teammates in action on TV at the Doha Asian Games.
The22-year-oldwasbound for her Asian Games debut but was dropped from the squad after she failed to recover in time from a back injury.
“In 2006, I injured my back in the Commonwealth Games and could not recover in time for the Asian Games. I was really sad then as I trained so hard for it,” said Jun Hoong.
“It was the toughest period of my life and at that time, I even thought of quitting for good but I told myself to fight on.” The setback made her a stronger woman. Jun Hoong made a quick recovery and four years on, debuted in the Guangzhou Asian Games, where she earned a bronze.
Since then, the Ipoh-born has been making inroads in the sport, first ending Malaysia’s eight-year Sea Games drought in the women’s 3m springboard individual at last year’s Indonesia edition before going on to earn two Olympic berths.
PerseverancepaidoffforJunHoong, who became the eighth Malaysian diver to qualify for the Olympics at the FINA Diving World Cup in London in February.
She earned her maiden Olympic appearance in style after finishing a strong seventh in the springboard individual preliminaries to secure an Olympic quota spot in the discipline.
A few days later, she and Pandelela Rinong won another prized Olympic quota spot in the springboard synchro in only their first competition together.
Coach Yang Zhuliang gambled on opting for Pandelela-Jun Hoong over the more experienced but error-prone Leong Mun Yee-Wendy Ng, which paid off, as the duo grabbed one of the four remaining Olympic spots then by finishing sixth with 300.90 points.
It was also the first time a Malaysian pair breached the 300-point mark in the springboard synchro.
“We hardly trained together but our experience in springboard helped us throughthatcompetition.Ourachievementsurprisedeveryoneincludingour coach,” she said.
JunHoong,however,doesnotintend to make up the numbers in London.
“I may not be one of Malaysia’s medal prospects but it does not mean I’ve got no chance at all.
“Myinjuryandotherpreviousobstacles have made me a stronger person.
I would be happy if I can reach at least the semi-finals of the individual event,” she said.
On the partnership with Pandelela, shesaidtheywillnotbetryingoutanything special in London.
“We will be taking a huge risk if we opt for new routines as we are only a scratch pair.
“A medal is not out of reach as there are only eight pairs in the competition.
“Our combination is getting better but of course, we are not trying complex routines due to limited time,” Jun Hoong added.
• Name: Cheong Jun Hoong
• Date of birth: April 16, 1990
• Place of birth: Ipoh, Perak
• Achievements: Sea Games — 2005 Manila: one gold (10m platform synchro) and two bronze (10m platform and 3m springboard synchro). 2007 Korat: 2011 Indonesia: one gold (3m springboard). Asian Games — 2010 Guangzhou: one bronze (1m springboard). Diving Asia Cup — 2011 Kuala Lumpur: two bronze (1m and 3m springboard). Asian Junior Aquatics Championships: two gold (1m and 3m springboard).
• London expectations: Spring a surprise in the synchro with Pandelela Rinong.
• Competition dates: July 29 (3m springboard synchronised), Aug 3-5 (3m springboard individual).