YOG 2010: Participation still in doubt, Daley set to arrive at Youth Olympics

From Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat, in Singapore

WORLD diving champion Tom Daley is due to arrive in Singapore in the early hours of the morning with his hopes of Youth Olympic Games gold still hanging in the balance.

IN THE BALANCE: World champion Tom Daley arrives in Singapore but whether he competes at the Youth Olympic Games remains in doubt (Getty Images)

Daley withdrew from defending his European diving title in Budapest with a triceps tear but insisted on travelling out to Singapore to be checked over by the British Olympic Association's medical team, who are preparing a scan for Tuesday morning.

"It's a matter for Tom's coach to say whether he will compete," said BOA chairman Colin Moynihan. 

"But the BOA has an outstanding medical and fitness team here to support him, and then it's for his coach and Tom to decide."

Daley's club and national coach, Andy Banks, has insisted the situation is not as dire as initially feared.

"It's not as bad for Tom as it looked in Budapest but we're not making any rash predictions," he said.

Daley - who made his Olympic debut in Beijing two years ago - was scheduled to be one of the star names of the games for organisers and his absence would be a major blow.

His rivals - while admitting their own medal chances would improve if he failed to compete - also claim they'd be disappointed if the 16-year old failed to line up.

Daley is entered for both the 10m platform and the 3m springboard - but he could choose to focus only on the former with the FINA World Junior Diving Championships in Arizona, right after the Youth Olympic Games.

 If he competes in the 10m platform, Singapore will witness a rematch of last year's World Championships, when the Daley clinched victory against China's Qiu Bo.

"My medal chances will increase if he doesn't participate because he's a very strong contender," said Mexico's Ivan Garcia.

"I've competed against him several times and he has always beaten me but now I feel I'm on a level that I can beat him."

Venezuela's Robert Paez added: "I feel really good training with and competing against athletes like him because that pumps me up. If he scores a nine, I know I have to improve and do better than an 8.5."

Italy's Giovanni Tocci has yet to decide whether to take part in the 10m platform  but said he would not mind seeing Daley and Qiu go head-to-head.

"I would like to compete against Daley and Qiu Bo because that puts the whole event at a much better level. I watch those divers on YouTube all the time," he said.

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