HANGZHOU — National sailor Nur Shazrin Mohamad Latif is unlikely to have any trouble continuing her good run even though she went up against some stiff competition at the Ningbo Xiangshan Sailing Centre at the Asian Games today.
Nur Shazrin, who started off strong in the first four races of the ILCA 6 women’s category, concluded the competition in fourth place in her first-ever appearance in the seventh race, after finishing the fifth and sixth races in third and first place, respectively.
However, the Asian Games 2018 bronze medalist still maintains her lead in the standings ahead of Singaporean Victoria Chan and Hong Kong’s Stephanie Norton, who are currently in second and third place, respectively.
2022 Hangzhou Asian Games sailing squad manager Lawrance Yeow said that Nur Shazrin would be able to maintain her momentum till Friday’s medal race, even though luck was not quite at her side today.
“If she can have a good lead, the medal race is nothing. Hopefully, she can retain her momentum and nothing is impossible.
“If the weather doesn’t change it will be a good race for her and so far it has been good, not too strong nor too light,” he said.
Nur Shazrin will continue with her remaining races on Monday.
Meanwhile, Lawrence did not reject the possibility that another national sailor Tengku Nurani Ezaty Tengku Khairudeen had the chance of at least the bronze in the women’s RS:X event if she is also able to maintain her form after ending third in the standings today.
Tengku Nurani finished third in her seventh and eighth race, edging Indian sailor Ishwariya Ganesh, who fell to fourth.
Another sailor with a shot at a podium finish is Muhammad Asnawi Iqbal Adam in the men’s ILCA 4 event, s he is currently fourth after six races, winning the fifth race, but ending sixth in the following race.
“So the current prospects for bronze are Nur Shazrin, Tengku Nurani and Muhammad Asnawi.
“Khairulnizam’s (Khairulnizam Mohd Affendy) chances are fading, but he still can fight but it’s an uphill task,” Lawrence said.
Two-time Asian Games silver medalist Khairulnizam placed eighth in the fifth and sixth races and then finished seventh in the seventh race today. — September 23, 2023