A Father's Sacrifice For His Olympian Daughter

KUCHING: His father's words and his own tough life. Those were the things Pamg Joheng drew upon to push him to sacrifice everything for his children.

And if Malaysia's new darling Pandelela Rinong drew even a little from her father's drive and sacrifice, those were the things that started her journey towards Olympic bronze, a journey which by all indications, is far from over.

Pamg never went far in his studies. Knowing just how tough life was without education, he vowed his children would never experience what he went through during his younger days. Staying close to his father's teaching, Pamg always reminded his children to plan ahead.

"My father used to tell me to plan two days ahead, so that we can live today," Pamg told the New Sunday Times.

It could be said that Pamg took his father's words and built on it. Instead of planning two days ahead, he planned years ahead. It was 12 years ago, when Pandelela was 7, Pamg would take her and her elder brother, Pardika Indoma, 8, for diving lessons.

Despite earning only RM45 a day, the contract worker knew he had to sacrifice for his children's future.

So, Pamg would hop on his trusty old Yamaha 80 motorcycle to send the siblings for training at the Stampark swimming pool in town, even breaking traffic rules to ensure they didn't miss out.

"I wanted them to be somebody. I wanted them to be better than me and I am willing to do everything for them," he said.

When only Pandelela was picked for the state diving team then, Pamg was devastated. The state coach told him that only Pandelela had the physique of a diver and her brother lacked that.

"I was very sad for my boy but I am happy for her at the same time. But at that young age, she needed support. She will never go far if she is separated from her brother."

Again, Pamg did what he had to do for his children; he spoke to the coach to let Pardika train together with the team, so that he could be close to his sister. The coach agreed.

As his family grew bigger with the birth of his third daughter, Pici Parnia, 14 years ago, Pamg saved some money to buy a car. At that time, he could only afford a used Mitsubishi Trident to transport his family.

"It was nothing to shout about. It was a bit rusty, but it ferried us. Every time I had to send Pandelela to the airport or to pick her up, I felt a little shy coming with a car like that, but that was what I could afford then."

For a man who went through hardship in life, Pamg had never once given up on his children. Instead, he stayed close to them and gave them whatever support he could.

His drive and support proved vital for Pandelela on Friday.

On the 10m platform, a poor first dive saw her starting off in 10th position. But Pandelela fought back and eventually earned the bronze.

In doing so, she became the first Malaysian woman to win an Olympic medal and also the first to win a medal other than badminton.

But before the final, Pandelela had a case of the jitters. Who could blame her, especially when she had to compete against some of the best divers in the world?

It was the thought of her father that calmed her down.

"I told her to remember my teachings and that I will pray for her every hour until she goes through her events. I also told her to shout out my name if it helps her to feel better before her jump."

Pandelela did cry out his name, as she told her father on the phone when she won the bronze medal.

That was the happiest telephone call for Pamg and his two younger daughters, Pici and Parcelia Renyelia that morning, after watching her on the podium live on television.

Pamg said the family could only talk to Pandelela through the telephone since she became a national athlete. It was, he said, the highest price for the family to pay -- being apart from her.

"Over the past years, we have missed celebrating Gawai Dayak and Christmas with her. It is a sad thing for us, but we understand that she has a strict training regime to follow and we do not want to disturb that."

The only time Pandelela would be home with them was when there was an official event. After that, she had to go back to Kuala Lumpur on the same day. The sports council did sponsor flight tickets for Pamg and his wife, but he said the expenses of staying in Kuala Lumpur would be too much for him to bear.

"Let her be with her mother... I can always talk to her on the phone and drive her around when she comes back. It would be like the old days when she was home.

"I hope the sports council will give her some sort of leave so we can spend time with her as a family. That is all I ask for," said Pamg.

Pamg no longer drives his old Mitsubishi Trident to pick Pandelela from the airport. Last year, his daughter bought him a brand new silver Proton Exora to do that.

Read more: A father's sacrifice for his Olympian daughter - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/a-father-s-sacrifice-for-his-olympian-daughter-1.123972#ixzz23PAAja00

Pandelela: Reward To Fund Studies And Career

PETALING JAYA: Pandelela Rinong Pamg, who learnt of The Star Media Group's RM100,000 reward after waking up from a snooze in London, said she would use the money to finance her education and advance her career.

“Wow, thank you very much. I'm so grateful,” the Olympic bronze medallist said when contacted over the phone yesterday.

The 19-year-old diver created sporting history by being Malaysia's first woman to win a medal at the Olympics. She came in third in the 10m platform event on Friday.

The group also announced a similar RM100,000 reward to Datuk Lee Chong Wei who won an Olympic silver medal in the badminton singles event.

The Youth and Sports Ministry praised The Star Media Group for offering the rewards to both Lee and Pandelela.

Deputy Minister Gan Ping Sieu said it was good to see corporate bodies contributing towards the country's sports development, and called for more help from the private sector.

“Incentives and rewards will spur them on and also encourage others to do better,” said Gan.

Pandelela will also receive RM150,000 under the Youth and Sports Ministry's incentive scheme and a monthly life pension of RM2,000.

Pandelela Just A Normal Teen

KUCHING: She is an Olympic medallist and Malaysia's first woman to triumph at that level, but Pandelela Rinong Pamg was like any other teenager the day after.

“I love K-Pop and enjoy Super Junior and Wonder Girls. I'm a big fan of Japanese anime,” the 19-year-old diving sensation said in a telephone interview from London yesterday.

Adding that she was having a ball at the London Olympics, Pandelela is just beginning to come to terms with her historic bronze medal feat in the 10m platform event on Friday.

“After the results came in, I was all emotional and cried. I spoke to my dad (over the telephone) almost immediately. He congratulated me and said all my aunties and uncles watched my feat on TV in Kuching,” she said.

Full of pride: (From left) Pandelela’s sisters Parcelia Renyelia, 12, and Pici Parnia, 14, together with their parents browsing through newspapers featuring Pandelela on every cover.

The Bidayuh lass, however, said she felt really sad that her parents were not by her side during the biggest moment of her life.

Hertini Lamin, 44, was on a sponsored trip to London from Aug 5 till Thursday, and was on her return journey when her daughter was competing in the final.

Pandelela said her family, who lives in a village near Bau about 40km from here, was trying to venture into the restaurant business.

Having been raised in near poverty, she spent her younger days following her dad Pamg Joheng, a daily paid labourer, from one construction site to another.

The flag bearer of the national contingent at the London Olympics opening ceremony has a burning desire: to speak to Malaysia's other London Olympic medallist, shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who broke down after failing narrowly to win the gold medal in the men singles final.

“Chong Wei is an inspiration to me. I watched that game live on TV. I want to tell him it's okay if we cannot be the best, but just that we should give it our all.”

Fondly called LuLu by her friends, Pandelela said she planned to continue with her studies and stay focused on her diving.

“I plan to follow my coach Yang Zhuliang to Australia. He has told us that he wants to return to his home in Australia,” said Pandelela, who had appealed to the National Sports Council to retain Yang's services.

Pandelela said Yang had told her that it would be possible for her to study and continue her training in Australia.

Patience Pays For Pandelela

KUCHING: Olympic bronze medallist Pandelela Rinong Pamg’s road to the podium was nothing short of arduous.

The 19-year-old Bidayuh from Bau near here cried her heart out when she was reprimanded by her coach following her performance in the women’s 10m platform synchro event. She partnered Leong Mun Yee.

She was not angry. Instead it motivated her to make amends and she did just that during the women’s 10m individual platform.

When the ripples settled at the Aquatics Centre in London, Pandelela became the first Malaysian woman to win a medal in the Olympics, and the first medallist in an Olympic event other than badminton.

A father's joy: Pamg receiving a call from a friend congratulating him on his daughter's bronze medal achievement at the London Olympics. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star

“She called me from London to tell me that she was scolded by her coach and she cried, but I advised her to be patient.

“I also advised her to try hard to win a medal in her individual event and I’m proud that she did just that,” Pandelela’s father Pamg Joheng toldThe Star yesterday.

He said starting from the preliminary round of the 10m individual platform event, he had been praying for his daughter’s success.

“I prayed every hour to ask God to show my daughter the winning way and thankfully, my prayers have been answered. I also told her to call me every time she wanted to make her jump,” he said.

“I’m very happy and very proud of her achievement. She has already fulfilled her dream to win an Olympic medal although it wasn’t gold.

“I’m thankful that she has won the bronze. I want every Malaysian to be thankful also because it’s not easy to compete against world-class divers.

“To qualify for the Olympic Games is also not easy,” said Pamg.

Pandelela called him early yesterday soon after she won the bronze.

“She was so happy although before the final, she also called me, saying that she was tired after the semi-finals.

“And I believe she won a medal because all Malaysians had prayed very hard for her success. As her father, I would like to thank all Malaysians for their support and prayers,” said Pamg.

However, Pandelela’s mother, who went to London on Aug 4, did not get the chance to see her daughter jump in the final as she had already left London at the time.

Pamg, when asked why his wife left early, said her trip to London was sponsored by Dutch Lady, which also arranged her schedule.

Hurrah For Pandelela From Her Alma Mater

KUCHING: It was a moment of pride and joy for students and teachers of SMK Tabuan Jaya Sports School when Pandelela Rinong Pamg bagged the bronze medal in the Olympics women's individual 10m platform event.

Deep in their hearts, they knew the former student could deliver a medal and make the nation proud.

Principal Hassan Wa'Gani said Pandelela's achievement was an inspiration to many athletes in the state.

Memorable day: Hassan (left), teachers and students of SMK Tabuan Jaya Sports School in Kuching jubilating over Pandelela’s success.

He said the school would invite Pandelela to share her experiences of the London Games.

“We're all very proud of her. I have always reminded students that their success will always be the pride and joy of the school, state and country,” he said.

Pandelela created history by winning Malaysia's first-ever Olympics medal in a sport other than badminton. She is also the first Sarawakian to win an Olympic medal.

Hassan said Pandelela studied in Form One and Two at the school before leaving for Bukit Jalil Sports School in 2006.

“I taught her visual arts. She was a good, quiet and disciplined student,” he recalled.

He said another national diver Bryan Nickson Lomas also studied in the school before being transferred to Bukit Jalil, adding that SMK Tabuan Jaya acted as a feeder school of athletes for the country.

He hoped the Government would pay more attention to rural schools' needs in improving sports development.

Diver’s Dad Beams With Pride

PETALING JAYA: An overjoyed Pamg Joheng, who works as a contract labourer, stayed at his home in Taman Samarex, Kota Samarahan in Kuching yesterday.

It was to honour a promise made to his daughter, national diver Pandelela Rinong.

Our darling: Pamg and his daughter Pici Parnia, 14, watching Pandelela being interviewed at the London Games on television. – ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / The Star

He had pledged not to go outside in the event she wins an Olympic medal in London.

Pandelela then made history by becoming the first Malaysian to clinch a bronze in women's 10m platform individual final in the early hours of Friday (Malaysian time).

It was a magnificent medal, considering the pressure the 19-year-old was under after a poor first dive left her in 10th place in the 12-diver field.

Pamg, 46, was proud of his 19-year old daugther, the eldest in a family of four. , had contributed to Malaysia's sporting history by being the non-badminton player to win an Olympic medal.

“I promised her before the Olympics that I would not go to work the next day if she won a medal. She wanted me to rest at home and share her glory.

“Watching television this morning, at first I thought she had no chance. But surprisingly, other divers also did not do well and I am proud that she fought her way back.

“She has always had a mind of her own and did not let the pressure get to her. The whole Bidayuh community is also proud of what she has achieved,” said Pamg, who added that he would have loved to go to London to watch her compete but had to work to support the family.

His wife Hartini Anak Lamim, 44, had gone to London to be with Pandelela - a trip made possible by Dutch Lady Malaysia, which sponsored her flight and stay there.

“Pandelela has helped the family from the incentives she earned over the past two years. I'm glad to see her rewarded. She has been training very hard and has not returned to stay with us all this year.

“There was once when she came to attend a function but flew back to KL immediately. But I understand as she needs to prepare for competitions,” he added.

Pandelela is expected to return home to a big reception by the Sarawak government and her community next week.

On what awaits Pandelela when she gets home, Pamg said she was a simple person.

”She does not ask for anything but usually asks her mother to cook her favourite dish - fried sambal petai with prawns.”

There are rumours that she would be rewarded with a Datukship by the state government.

Meanwhile in SEPANG Hartini said she could not hold back her tears when her daughter received the bronze medal.

“I am so proud of her. She injured her back during a training session before leaving for London, yet she was so determined to give her best,” she said at the at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport upon returning from London last night.

Hartini said Pandelela, who began training since she was eight, was a very disciplined and motivated girl, who never gave up on her dreams.

“I knew she was in pain, but she did not want to give up,

“I just kept praying very hard for her to win,” she said, adding that the family's humble background had never been a obstacle for Pandelela.

XV SUKMA 2012