A father's sacrifice for his Olympian daughter

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Pamg Joheng 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 (S$17.95) 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.

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 embarrassed 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."

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."

"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.