Malaysian Olympic diving medallist ‘hit coach with slipper after he kicked her’

The brawl was over a volleyball game as the country reels from claims that another China-born coach allowed ‘an environment of rape and sexual harassment’ to prevail

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Malaysia's Pandelela Rinong (bottom) with Leong Mun Yee at the 2011 world championships. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:52pm, 24 Dec 2017Updated: 6:07pm, 24 Dec 2017

Malaysia’s Olympic silver medallist Pandelela Rinong hit coach Huang Qiang with a slipper after he kicked her in a row over a volleyball game, local media reported as the country reels from claims that there was a climate of fear “inviting rape and sexual harassment” in the diving community.

National coach and former China coach Yang Zhuliang, whose contract is not being renewed for “allowing” such an environment to prevail, told the Malay Mail that he was aware of a fight between Pandelela and Huang, who is due to go on trial after being accused of raping a 20-year-old diver. China-born Huang has pleaded not guilty.

Yang denied Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s claim that he allowed a “culture and environment [that] caused cases of rape, sexual harassment, violence, beatings, bullying and threats”.

Former China national coach Yang said, though, that he was aware of the incident involving Pandelela and Huang but did not know when it happened.

“They were actually playing volleyball. The rule was the loser would be kicked. However, I did not play. When Pandelela lost, Huang kicked her,” Yang was quoted as saying.

“Pandelela scolded Huang. He asked Pandelela ‘what it was all about’ and she scolded him again.

“Huang lost his temper and kicked Pandelela again. Pandelela took her slippers and brushed it on Huang’s face. They started fighting and both had to be pulled apart by the other divers.”