Hangzhou 2022: Lee hopes Asiad will provide platform for Olympic dream

By Patrick Johnston

Stepping out into the Aquatic Sport Arena at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Singapore diver Max Lee was getting Olympic feels.

It’s not surprising. The enormous Hangzhou Games is hosting 12,000 athletes and 481 events at impressive new or refurbished venues, built with no expense spared. Those numbers eclipse the expected contingent and events slated for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“The first day when I came here, I was like ‘woah, this feels like the Olympics,’ Lee said of his debut Asiad experience. 

“From the stadium to the setting, it was all just awesome.”

And given his experiences of competing with the world’s elite, such as the gold and silver medal winning Chinese divers in Hangzhou, Lee is keen for more.

Max Lee is pictured setting up for an armstand back dive during the preliminary heat of the men’s 10 metre platform at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. (Photo: Sport Singapore/Andy Chua)

An eighth place finish in the men’s 10 metre platform on Wednesday (Oct 4) was another step on the journey to becoming an Olympian for the 15-year-old schoolboy.

“It’s crazy,” he said. “Honestly, I'm just hoping to take this as another major games experience and take it on to the World Championships next year in Doha and hopefully qualify for the Olympics.”

Lee will need a top 12 finish at the World Championships to guarantee qualification for Paris, although some other quota measures could provide a possible alternative route. The more exposure he gets at such top level meets can only stand the young student in good stead.

“I’m very excited, very grateful to have this opportunity because not a lot of 15, 16-year-olds have this opportunity to come to an Asian Games.”

He performed particularly well in Wednesday’s preliminaries, ending with a total score of 367.30 from his six dives. Happy and relieved to be free of the injuries that hampered his progress at the SEA Games this year, Lee went on to finish the final with a total score of 376.50.

Max Lee is pictured mid twist as he takes part in the preliminary heat of the men’s 10 metre platform at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. (Photo: Sport Singapore/Andy Chua)

Lee, who won bronze at the 2023 SEA Games, said he was becoming accustomed to competing at this level.

“I honestly didn’t expect it to go as well as it went. I wasn’t as nervous because I had nothing to lose.”

Lee was one of four divers that Singapore sent to Hangzhou to compete in the competition that concluded on Wednesday (Oct 4).

Avvir Tham, like Lee, picked up a bronze at the SEA Games earlier this year. He finished seventh in the men’s one metre springboard and ninth in the three metre event in Hangzhou.

Avvir Tham acknowledges the crowd after stepping out into the Aquatic Sport Arena for the final of the men’s one metre springboard final at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. (Photo: Sport Singapore/Andy Chua)

Ashlee Tan was ninth in the women’s one metre springboard, with Kay Fong forced to pull out just before the event because of injury. The duo also recorded a fourth place in the women’s three metre synchronised springboard, a step up on their sixth place at the last Asiad five years ago.

“We have a very small team so we bond together, we are very tight and close,” Lee said. “My teammates are all up there cheering me on.”

The 19th Asian Games are held in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October 2023. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.