The windsurfing event in the 2012 Asian Beach Games has come to a conclusion with GOLD medals in the Mens and Womens events for China.[more]
The event, hosted in Haiyang, China, was contested on Techno 293 One Design equipment.
Eleven races over 5 days produced the following podium positions:
MEN
Gold – FENG, Yihua (CHN 25)
Silver – KAEWDUANG-NGAM, Siripon (THA 22)
Bronze – WU, Yiping (CHN 30)
WOMEN
Gold – WEI, Bipeng (CHN 05)
Silver – SINGSART, Navin (THA 12)
Bronze – PHONOPPHARAT, Natthaphong (THA 03)
Windsurfing T293 Rounds 4-6 – HAIYANG, June 18th – The fog dispersed and the weather was nice with a moderate wind speed – a perfect day for windsurfing. Today, in Zone B of Fengxiang Beach, the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds of windsurfing took place.[
At 11:30 in the morning, athletes from 9 countries prepared themselves well and went into the sea, sailing into the racing area. At 12:00, the fourth round of Windsurfing T293 started. Chinese players were among the top contestants with Feng Yihua ranking the first and Wu Yiping second in the women’s tournaments and Wei Bipeng ranking first, Zhou Guanxing third in the men’s tournaments. After the fourth round, the top three men’s rankings included Wei Bipeng, Phonoppharat Natthaphong and Singsart Navin and the top three women’s rankings were Feng Yihua, Wu Yiping from China and Ma Kuan Ching from Hong Kong.
The fifth round started as planned. Wei Bipeng, the athlete from China, kept his place and ranked 1st in the men’s games. But in the women’s T293, Chinese athletes preformed less well, while Kaewduang-ngam Siripon, from Thailand, was on her game and performed remarkably, becoming the first to arrive ta the finishing line. After that round, the top three Men’s T293 were Wei Bipeng, Singsart Navin and Phonoppharat Natthaphong, and the top three of Women’s T293 were Feng Yihua, WU Yiping and Kaewduang-ngam Siripon.
In the last round of today’s race, Wu Yiping from the Chinese women’s team, seemed tired. No obvious change happened to the ranking list after the 6th round. However, Wu Yiping had only a one-point advantage over an athlete from Thailand, who ranked 3rd in women’s T293. In today’s races, the athletes from Thailand performed well, and became powerful competitors for windsurfing’s silver medal.
Three races completed today in the windsurfing event – with China leading the rankings. The races were held in light winds on the Bic Techno 203 One Design.
Sailing finishes on 21st June.
Official WebsiteHaiyang, China: Amidst a sea of colour and bounty of exotic sea creatures, the 3rd Asian Beach Games officially opened at Heqing Stadium on Saturday night. After five years of preparations, this small coastal town in rural Shandong province welcomed Asia’s 45 National Olympic Committees to the 13-sport, 49-event beach and water sports festival running from June 16-22.
State Councilor Ma Kai declared the 3rd ABG open after speeches from Jiang Daming, Executive President of organising committee HABGOC and Governor of Shandong province; Chinese Olympic Committee President and Sports Minister Liu Peng; and from the Olympic Council of Asia President, H. E. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.
“Tonight I can feel an air of excitement for this special occasion,” said Sheikh Ahmad. “On behalf of the OCA I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all those who have been involved in the preparations. Congratulations! You have done a wonderful job.”
Sheikh Ahmad asked the athletes to show respect and to represent their country or region with dignity, and thanked the sponsors, media and volunteers for their support.
“Last but not least, to the people of Haiyang – join in this grand gala and be proud of your city. Let’s all ‘Share the Joy’,” he concluded, referring to the Games slogan.
Representatives from all 45 NOCs in Asia joined in the parade, with particularly loud cheers reserved for Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese Taipei as well as for the host nation.
Cultural highlights included a dazzling silver moon, giant jellyfish, a dragon boat with sails and a glittering model of a flying seagull carrying the flame to eventually light the golden cauldron on the shore of the Yellow Sea.
