The championship medals have been awarded and the places confirmed for the Youth Olympic Games in China. HKG having already qualified, the Boys fleet qualifiers are Japan, Thailand and, for the first time, Myanmar and in the Girls Thailand, Japan and Singapore have qualified. Congratulations to all![more]
There was a lot of close action on the course during the two final races as competitors played their final cards. In the Youth Boys fleet the bullets were taken by Cheng Ho Yin HKG-36 but it was Chan Tsz Kit HKG-17 claimed the title of Asian Champion. Hong Kong dominated the final podium with Cheng Ho Yin finishing in second place and Wong Chun Yan in the third spot on the podium
Chan Tsz Kit said, “I am excited about the Youth Olympic games because it is a big event worldwide and I can compete with top sailors from different countries. It will be a great experience for me.”
Duangkamon Phongern THA-51 was the undisputed champion of the Youth Girls Division, with Hong Kong’s Choi Wing Chi finishing second overall. In third place Lim Si Ying Ynez SIN-98 had her best race of the championship coming first over the line in the penultimate race.
About her ticket to China, Duangkamon Phongern said, “I am happy but it will be really stressful at Nanjing because all the competitors this time round will be tougher and more competitive.”
Competition was tight between the top three in the Open Division but Sandakov Dmitry RUS-154 held on to the top spot with Ikeda Takumi JPN-223 finishing the championship in second place and Ikeda Kazushi JPN-221 taking third.
This has been a close fought championship, new friendships have been made and, competition over, there was time to relax: from card games around the table, conga lines around the room to water fights in the rigging and storage area!
All involved in staging the 33 SIM Singapore Windsurfing Championships are to be congratulated for the slick operation both on and off the water and for their wonderful hospitality. The National Sailing Centre in Singapore has a long tradition in sailing and windsurfing and in the 90’s had one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“It has been good to see all these countries coming to Singapore, good to see windsurfing being revived. Sport is important in people’s lives, these kids are our future, and we are bringing people together.”
The tricky conditions not only proved challenging to the race committee but also to the competitors as tactics came into play. In the end, it was the ones who could best read the wind conditions who triumphed.
FINAL RESULTS: TECHNO 293
