MALAYSIA SAILING TOWARDS GOLD
Fauzi takes lead in laser 4.7 category with one race to go
MALAYSIA are on the verge of winning gold in the laser 4.7 category of the sailing competition at the Asian Games. After 11 races, youngster Fauzi Kaman Shah leads the competition yesterday with 19 points with one race remaining tomorrow.
He is unlikely to be overtaken by China’s Wang Jianxiong who is second on 39 points. India’s Harshita Tomar is third with 50 points.
Malaysia could even take a second gold through Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy in the laser standard.
Khairulnizam is second overall today with 19 points, just 1.2 points behind leader Ha Jeemin of South Korea.
“I cannot be satisfied with silver which is already in my grasp. I will try to win the gold on Friday,” said Khairulnizam.
He added that Singaporean Ryan Lo, who is third on 22 points, will not be able to overtake him.
In addition to winning a medal, Khairulnizam will also become the first Malaysian to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by virtue of his top two finish as Jeemin has already secured his ticket to Tokyo two weeks ago.
Also in the running for a medal and Olympic ticket is Nur Syazrin Muhamad Latif who is currently in fourth place in the laser radial. Japan’s Minami Doi (11points) and Zhang Dongshuang (24) are in first and second place.
Syazrin will have to battle Thailand’s Chanwin Kamolwan, with whom she is tied on 34 points (joint fourth), for the Olympic slot.
Assistant team manager Nik Ashraf Nik Azizan said the medals and Olympic tickets will only be officially announced after the final races on Friday.
“The gold is 80 per cent ours but we have to wait until the final race for it to be official.”