Asian Games Sailing Squad Targets Repeating Incheon Result

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- The national sailing squad is confident of winning at least one gold medal to repeat its achievement in Incheon, South Korea at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia next month. The 2018 Asian Games Malaysian contingent head, Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi was optimistic the one gold medal target was realistic based on the level of readiness besides the thorough preparation made by the national sailing camp since seven months ago. "Today we had met and had a deep discussion with the Malaysian Sailing Association (PPM) and I am very pleased with all the preparations they had made in facing the challenges in the 2018 Asian Games. "After scrutinising all the preparations carried out by the national sailing camp, (I am optimistic) they have the potential to bring home at least a gold medal from Indonesia to equal their performance in the previous edition four years ago," he said. He said this when met by reporters at a meeting with association representatives and sailing athletes at the Olympic Council of Malaysia building here Monday. Meanwhile, PPM chief executive officer Mazlan Othman said the Laser 4.7 class, one of the four classes to be participated by the national contingent, had a big potential to contribute the gold medal. "There are four classes with great potentials for us to get a gold medal, namely, Laser 4.7, Laser Standard, Laser Radia’ and Double Handed Dinghy 470, but the brightest chance is through Laser 4.7. "It's because the national athlete (Muhammad Fauzi Kaman Shah) who will be in action in this class occupies the world's second ranking. So we expect a good performance from him at the festival, "he said. The national squad would be taking part in the 2018 World Sailing Yacht Championship in Aarhus, Denmark from Thursday in the mission to qualify for the 2022 Tokyo Olympics as well as the final preparations ahead of the 2018 Asian Games. For the record, the national sailing squad succeeded in bringing back a gold medal through the Ahmad Syukri Abdul Aziz-Mohamad Faizal Norizan combination in the two-person dinghy 420 event and two silver medals via Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy (one person dinghy laser) and Nuraisyah Jamil-Umi Norwahida Sallahuddin (two-person dinghy 420) in the women’s category in Incheon, respectively. -- BERNAMA