Jellson, Gabriel make SEA Games squad
Published on: Friday, July 07, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Divers Jellson Jabilin and Gabriel Gilbert Daim created history for aquatic sport in the State after their names were among the 16 selected by the national body for the coming SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.It was the first time Sabahans have made it to the SEA Games diving squad and the Bukit Jalil Sports School based athletes were overjoyed with the call-up and vow to give their best for the country."It is an honour to represent Malaysia and we will give our very best and hopefully can deliver something for the country," they said on Thursday.ADVERTISEMENT The two 16-year-olds are currently in good form and had their first international success in the recent Macau Asian Diving Cup competition with Gabriel partnering Rio Olympian Nur Dhabitah Sabri to take silver in the mixed 3m springboard synchro event while Jellson also won silver in the men's 10m platform synchro with Hanis Nazirul Jaya Surya.They only joined the national squad early this year with Gabriel under the care of Chinese coach Yang Zhuliang with another Chinese Huang Qiang coaching Jellson.The two former SK Inanam Laut students wished to express their gratitude to Sabah Aquatic Sports Association (Sasa) and their former coach Khairul Safwan Mansor for grooming them as well as their parents for their support throughout the years."We are very thankful for the support given by our parents and Sasa especially coach Khairul who guided us from the very beginning since 2013."ADVERTISEMENT Sasa President Anthony Kiob when contacted congratulated the pair and was pleased with the hard work carried out by those involved to ensure the success of aquatic sport in the State."Congratulation to Gabriel and Jellson and I hope their inclusion in the SEA Games squad will motivate other up and coming divers as well as to encourage more to take up the sport.
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"We are really happy to note that our new methods of training to prepare them physically and psychologically including good nutrition had finally paid off, and hopefully they will perform consistently during the Games and make us proud.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"A very big thank you also to Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan and his Ministry, MSN and Sabah Sports Board for their support in our development programme," he added.Meanwhile State OKU coach Eva Wong has been appointed as one of the technical officials during the Games in August. - GL Oh