By Norni Mahadi Sabahan boy lifts Overall Optimist championship title at BIYC 2017
MIRI: Primary schoolboy Mohd Shahieran Raiman, representing Sabah Sailing Association (Saila), emerged the Optimist Overall champion in the 12th Borneo International Yachting Challenge (BIYC) 2017, which concluded recently.
The respective first and second runners-up were Ammar Zulqarnain Zainuddin from Perak and Mohd Amirul Akmal Aslan from Sarawak Sailing Association (Sasa).
Earlier, the young Sabahan won the Optimist Division A, where Ammar Zulqarnain placed second, while Shahieran’s teammate Muhd Aiman Mohd Firdaus took third place.
In Optimist Division B, the winner was Sasa’s Mohd Amirul, while the respective runners-up were Muhammad Rayyan Zahin Md Hairol Azhar and Nur Amylea Husna Razali – both Johoreans.
In Optimist Division C, Muhammad Danish Ashraf Kaswari from Perak came out tops, leaving Sasa young sailors Sharul Shafwan Gani and Muhammad Yusri Syahrizan at respective second and third place.
Nevertheless, Sasa dominated the Optimist Sarawak Novice category through Mohd Yusri Syahrizan (winner), Nor Isma Zhafar Zairul Azhar (first runnerup) and Magdeline Sharone (second runner-up).
Johore’s Nur Aleeya Waheeda Razali triumphed in the Optimist Girl category, with Nur Ameera Natasha Zamzurine from Sasa and fellow Johorean Nur Amylea Husna Razali finishing respective second and third.
Mohd Shahieran Raiman excelled in the Optimist Boy category, with Perak sailors Ammar Zulqarnain Zainuddin and Mohd Amirul Akmal Aslan placing respective second and third.
Meanwhile in the Men’s Bic Techno Man event, Darron Chin Hui Jie from Sasa outraced Thiwa Won @ Yanghang and Patchara Man @ Mee Phol – both from Thailand.
Brunei Darussalam, on the other hand, made a clean sweep in Race Board Open category through Muhammad Fadzlin Hassan (winner), Mohd Asri Mohd Taib (second place) and Hassan Mohd Salleh (third place).
Sarawak sailors took the respective top three spots in the Laser Standard category through Muhammad Syafiq Hasnan, Hamdan Yahya and Mok Chuang Yong.
There were only two contenders in the Women’s Laser Radial category, Nor Naeilah Nor Hassan who won and Mas Shaira Salman. The same went for Men’s Laser 4.7 category, with Saila’s Muhammad Afiq Irsyad beating Sasa’s Eric Cwen Tan Chang Fook to clinch the win.
In the Women’s Laser 4.7 category Nur Aisah Rese Ramlee from Saila edged Sasa’s Masturina Ismadol and Johore’s Nurin Arisha Mohd Azman to claim victory.
Only the Men’s Laser Radial and Women’s Bic Techno Women categories had solo contestants – Alan Anderson Wan Mandu and Putri Nor Andryana Samsul Helmi, respectively. Both of them represented Sasa.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin presented the prizes to the top sailor, including the two solo contestants, during a ceremony at Coco Cabana in Miri Marina on Saturday night.
Miri District Officer Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf and BIYC 2017 coorganising chairman Troy Yaw were also present.