KUCHING: Sarawak fielded 28 divers as the 61st MILO/PRM MIAG Diving Championships 2026 gets underway today (May 8), marking a strong start to their campaign against a competitive international field of 120 athletes.
The championships, held from Friday to Sunday (May 10) at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre, feature over 300 event entries, making this year’s edition one of the most competitive to date as athletes compete across multiple age categories.
Sarawak diving head coach, Shi Yang, said the state team has undergone solid preparations leading into the competition and remains optimistic about the squad’s chances, particularly with the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Selangor this August in focus.
“We believe Sarawak has the capability to compete strongly this year. The team has been preparing well, and we are optimistic about achieving positive results in this year’s Malaysia Games (SUKMA),” he told Sarawak Tribune.
Shi also highlighted the presence of several young divers in the squad, noting that the championships would be an important platform for their development at a higher level of competition.
“Yes, we do have a few young divers coming through the ranks who have shown great progress during training. They are still gaining experience at this level, but they have good potential and we hope this competition will be an important step in their development,” he added.
The Sarawak line-up is led by Olympic medallist, Datuk Pandelela Rinong, alongside Olympian Bertrand Rhodict Lises and 2025 SEA Games gold medallists, Nur Eilisha Rania Muhammad Abrar Raj and Nurul Farisya Alia Affendi.
The meet, organised by Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) and the Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak (ASAS), with support from the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, also serves as a qualifying platform for major upcoming competitions, including the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and the 12th Asian Age Group Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.
Participants include the Malaysia national team, eight Malaysian states, as well as Singapore and Chinese Taipei.
