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DIVING: Sacrifice in search of gold

NO DISTRACTION: Huang Qiang sends family back to China

Huang Qiang
Huang Qiang

DIVER Huang Qiang has made the ultimate sacrifice for Olympic glory.
The naturalised Malaysian has moved his family back to China as he does not want distractions ahead of the London Games.

Huang Qiang will make his Olympic debut after he and Bryan Nickson Lomas earned a quota spot in the 3-metre springboard synchro at the World Cup in London, where they also made history by clinching bronze.

The 30-year-old, who received his citizenship in July, is serious about making an impact at the London Games after a back injury kept him out from the China team for the 2000 edition in Sydney.
National coach Yang Zhuliang said Huang Qiang made a difficult decision to move his family to China.
"His Malaysian wife and five-month-old son are with his parents in China. He felt it would be too taxing to take care of his family and also focus on training," said Zhuliang yesterday.

"I like his serious attitude as he has made a huge sacrifice for the Olympic Games. He is getting better in training and I hope he will be able to make an impression in London."
Huang Qiang, a former Asian Games medallist, will compete in his second competition since making a return to the sport at the World Cup in February at the four-day second leg of the Diving World Grand Prix, which starts on Thursday, in Montreal, Canada.

He will not only compete in the springboard synchro with Lomas but also in the individual event.
"I am grooming him for the individual event to take Lomas' spot in the London Games. Lomas has earned three Olympic quotas and he may drop the springboard individual if Huang Qiang shapes up well in training and competitions," Zhuliang added.

Huang Qiang, meanwhile, said he was looking forward to make an impression in Canada.
"All that hard work in training is making me very tired but it is worth it. My right shoulder hurts because of the training.

"I have been told that I could opt for an additional discipline in London apart from the springboard synchro. I hope to get it right in Montreal," said Huang Qiang, adding that his combination with Lomas has gotten better since the World Cup.

The Olympic-bound diving team comprising Lomas, Yeoh Ken Nee, Huang Qiang, Pandelela Rinong, Cheong Jun Hoong, Wendy Ng, Leong Mun Yee and Traisy Vivien, left for Montreal yesterday.
Zhuliang will use the competition and also next week's Fort Lauderdale leg to gauge his divers' performance, where some of them will be testing new routines.



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