The next wave of Malaysian diving talent made a big splash at the Kejohanan Akuatik Terjun Bakat Olimpik 2025, held over the weekend (4-5 October 2025) at the Pusat Akuatik Nasional, Bukit Jalil. With 111 divers representing nine states, the two-day meet delivered glimpses of future stars destined to be the face of Malaysia’s diving aiming for a greater success.
Sarawak’s Statement of Supremacy
Once again, Sarawak proved why it is considered Malaysia’s diving heartland. By the close of competition, their divers had amassed 9 golds, 3 silvers, and 3 bronzes, comfortably topping the medal standings.
The team’s strength was spread across every category, but three names in particular stole the spotlight. Awang Sharzan Zaqwan delivered the kind of performance that makes talent scouts take note, capturing two gold medals in the under-12 springboard and platform. His clean take-offs and secure entries marked him out as one of the meet’s most polished performers.
Alongside him, Muhammad Hijri Rayyan and Andrew Chung added valuable depth, both finishing with two medals apiece. Muhammad Hijri and Andrew Chung may not have left Bukit Jalil with double golds, but their consistency across both springboard and platform underlined Sarawak’s all-round depth in the boys’ categories.
On the girls’ side, Sarawak’s quality shone just as brightly. Izara Leanne Sufeea, only nine years old, became one of the youngest medal winners of the championships, showing courage beyond her years. Mya Yumna Schakeera combined composure with style to walk away with gold and silver, while Fabiana Anderianna added another gold medal to her growing resume. For Fabiana, this wasn’t just another victory — it was further proof of her rising stature, having already won platform gold at the SEA Age Group Aquatics, Singapore in June.
Young Prodigies Set the Standard
While Sarawak’s depth won the medal race, two of the youngest competitors stole the spotlight with performances that set new benchmarks.
In the Boys’ Under-10 1m Springboard, Isaac Mikhael of Pahang executed with remarkable calmness to score 63.30 points — the highest total of the entire championships. Judges awarded marks in the 7s for his Pike Entry, a rare feat for someone so young. His gold medal was not just a victory, but a statement of what Malaysia’s diving future could look like.
On the girls’ side, Johor’s Lim Qi Xun matched that sense of promise. Her routines in the Girls’ Under-10 1m Springboard earned her 61.05 points and a gold medal, highlighted by a final dive that scored 7.5 from one judge.
For both Isaac and Lim, born in 2015, their gold medals carried extra weight: they were not just the youngest champions of the weekend, but also the highest-scoring performers across all age groups.
Selangor Finds Its Leading Man
If Sarawak had the depth and the youngest stars set the pace, then Selangor supplied the weekend’s sharpest breakthrough. Arif Aisy, competing in the under-15 boys’ division, left with two gold medals — on springboard and platform.
Arif didn’t dominate with margin, but with control. His routines weren’t about high-risk difficulty; they were about execution under pressure. In junior diving, that matters more. Two clean sets of dives, two gold medals, and a statement: Selangor has found its anchor.
His double triumph accounted for two-thirds of Selangor’s overall gold tally, as the state finished second on the medal table with 3 golds and 6 silvers. For Selangor, Arif’s success provided not only medals but also reassurance that the state remains a vital contributor to Malaysia’s diving talent pipeline.
The Kejohanan Akuatik Terjun Bakat Olimpik Kebangsaan 2025 is more than just a medal tally – it is an investment into Malaysia’s sporting future. With promising performances from all states, the competition reaffirms Malaysia’s commitment to unearthing and nurturing diving prodigies who may one day follow in the footsteps of national icons such as Datuk Pandelela Rinong, Ooi Tze Liang, and Nur Dhabitah Sabri. For many, this was their first taste of the national stage. For all, it was a step closer to turning dreams into Olympic reality.
The Medal Tally
For full results, click the link below: