PETALING JAYA, Nov 20 — Rising star Jellson Jabilin plans to pull off a juggling act in sports and academics for his upcoming hectic diving schedule next year.

The 16-year-old Sabahan said he will compete in the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games but most importantly sit for his SPM examination by end of 2018.

"In this remaining period of 2017, I need to focus more on my training — stamina and inner strength in order to try new dives.

"I also need to do a lot of catching-up in my studies while I was busy with SEA Games preparations. I need to work smart. I want to be an athlete with brains,” said Jellson.

He made heads turn at the KL SEA Games as a debutant with Hanis Nazirul Jayasurya who won gold in the men's synchronised 10m platform.

He pledged to stay consistent for a gold outing at both Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast (April) and Asian Games in Jakarta (August).

"I want Malaysia male divers to shine too. I want to ‘fight’ and beat my own idol in the sport, Bryan (Nickson Lomas).

"Plus I also want to be like China’s Yang Jian. He is strong and his dive difficulty is always high,” he said.

For the records, Jellson managed to help himself to a gold and a silver at the Diving Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur in October.

He first clinched silver in the men’s 10m platform synchro with Hanis Nazirul, then partnered world champion Cheong Jun Hoong to win Malaysia’s first gold in the 10m platform mixed synchro.