KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) hopes Bertrand Rhodict Lises will make a lasting impression on his debut Olympic appearance at the Paris Games on July 26-Aug 11.
However, the association is facing a huge problem with the diver's training plans abroad.
No country has expressed interest in accommodating Bertrand for joint training sessions, including England, which have produced several Olympic champions, including Tom Daley.
The 18-year-old Bertrand will be Malaysia's sole representative in diving at the Paris Games.
"We want Bertrand to have better sparring partners, and that is by getting him to be on short training attachments abroad," said MAS secretary Andy Low.
"However, we are encountering difficulties, with many countries, including England, rejecting the request for joint training sessions.
"These countries are just not interested."
MAS technical director Byran Nickson Lomas is actively seeking countries that could host Bertrand's training sessions.
This challenge might be due to Malaysia no longer being among the leading nations in diving.
Bertrand is the latest athlete under the Road to Gold (RTG) programme following his success in qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
Meanwhile, MAS hopes two-time Olympic medallists Pandelela Rinong and Nur Dhabitah Sabri will regain their form soon.
The duo was removed from the RTG initiative after failing to qualify for the Paris Games.
However, Pandelela and Dhabitah remain on a two-year Podium Programme contract, set to expire after next year's Bangkok Sea Games.
"We will encourage the senior divers to work harder and improve their dives.
"Hopefully, they will make their presence felt again in world diving," said Andy, confirming that both divers are still under the Podium programme until the Bangkok Sea Games.
