Aaliyah can jump for joy after bagging two more golds

NATIONAL water skier Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah needed two attempts to snuff out the challenge of defending champion Rossi Amir and clinch gold in the jump event.

The 14yearold then picked up her second gold of the day in tricks before settling for the silver in slalom at the Putrajaya Lake yesterday.

She ended the competition with three golds and a silver. She had picked up the women’s overall gold on Saturday.

Aaliyah went into the jump event yesterday with her confidence sky high after smashing halfsister Phillipa Yoong’s 23year national record (32.20m) with a jump of 32.80m in the preliminary round on Monday.

Rossi went first and set the bar high – leaping 30.80m.

Then came Aaliyah’s turn. She came mighty close – clearing 30.70m.

Undeterred, the spunky Malaysian went back in for a second attempt. This time she leapt 32.60m, much to the delight of the crowd.

Rossi settled for the silver while compatriot Nur Alimah Priambodo took the bronze with 27.60m.

With the jump gold safely in the bag, Aaliyah then blew her rivals away in tricks.

Aaliyah, who has a personal best of 7,600 points in tricks, amassed 5,880 to finish way ahead of Singapore’s Sabelle Kee ( 3,450) and thirdplaced Nur Alimah (3,450).

In her third event of the day, Aaliyah could only get a silver in the slalom, clearing 2 buoys/55kph/13m rope to narrowly finish behind Singaporean Sasha Christian (3.5/55/13).

Still, Aaliyah was elated with her strong finish, “especially since I started the competition still recovering from fever”.

“I just feel so good right now. I came into the competition so sick and weak,” said Aaliyah.

“To win three golds is crazy and simply unbelievable. I’m just so happy and surprised right now, especially in jump. It was not the favourite event but I managed to beat Phillipa’s national record in the first round.

“Now I'm looking forward to enjoying a nice long break,” added Aaliyah, who won two golds at Singapore 2015.

With younger brother Adam, nine, also delivering gold in the men’s tricks, Malaysia’s final haul of four golds equalled their bestever show at the 2011 Palembang Games.