Japan waters tricky with unpredictable weather
KUALA LUMPUR: National sailing athlete Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy may have to endure the threat of typhoons and tsunamis at sea during the Tokyo Olympics this July.
The Klang-born 27-year-old athlete said based on past experiences, the weather and sea conditions in the country located in the Pacific Ocean were unpredictable.
Khairulnizam, who qualified for the Games in the standard laser event said the real situation could only be known on the day of the tournament, so sailors should be prepared to face all eventualities to finish well at the Enoshima Yacht Harbor in Fujisawa City.
“The situation is different in each venue... Japan is unpredictable, the weather can be hot and the wind conditions can be varied, there is a possibility for a typhoon to occur, which could play a role as well. In Malaysia, we train in flatwater waves. In Japan, there are swell waves, (which makes the water) choppy.
“For example, two years ago when we participated in the tournament there, there was an event where the wind was mild, in another the wind was strong. So we have to go there early to adapt to the situation,” said Khairulnizam, who is currently undergoing quarantine-based training at the National Sail Training Centre in Langkawi.
The silver medalist in both the 2014 and 2018 editions of the Asian Games for the laser event had experienced the threat of Typhoon Kammuri during the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, which forced the events on the first and second day to be cancelled.
Commenting further, Khairulnizam said wind conditions in Langkawi were currently mild, with strong winds only occurring for around seven days a month, and this was not ideal for the national squad's training.
Apart from that, he said being ‘locked up' at home and the training centre since a year ago due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) had not helped either.
The last time he participated in a competition was the International Laser Class Association World Championship in Melbourne, Australia in February last year.
“Athletes from other countries such as in Europe can still continue with tournaments and training camps because there are still many tournaments being held there. Athletes from the American continent as well as from Australia and New Zealand also still have competitive tournaments, so maybe they have some advantage,” he said.
Khairulnizam, who trains with his father Mohd Afendy Abdullah, said the national squad planned to undergo a month-long training stint in Spain and participate in local tournaments there to prepare for the Olympics, however, it would depend on the government's approval.
After that, the national squad will continue training in Malaysia and leave for Japan by June to make early preparations, besides participating in local tournaments there.