Thursday, September 27, 2007

Yachtsmen Targeting Four Gold At Korat Games

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Yachting Association has set a target of four gold medals from 12 yachting events at the SEA Games in Korat, Thailand in December.

The manager of the yachting team to the Games, Lt Cdr Malik Sulaiman said if the target could be achieved, it would be the second best gold tally for yachting after the 2001 edition in Kuala Lumpur where the Malaysians grabbed five gold medals.

"Ever since Malaysia competed in yachting at the SEA Games, beginning in 1961, the best achievement by the Malaysians was in 2001 in Kuala Lumpur with five gold medals.

"Malaysia's best achievement in the biennial Games abroad was in 1997 in Jakarta with two gold. So in Korat, the association hopes to exceed that number," he told Bernama, here Tuesday.

Malik said Malaysia would participate in the optimist (men, women, team), laser (men, women), super moth, international 420 (men, women), international 470 (men, women), windsurfing and Keelboat.

Declining to disclose the events that would contribute to Malaysia's gold tally, he said the squad, comprising 25 yachtsmen and assisted by five coaches, were now in the final phase of training held at three venues.

Training for the optimist and laser events are held in Port Dickson, Keelboat in Port Klang and windsurfing in Penang.

"Four coaches, Abdul Rani Idris, Zaidi Amin Pardi, Hamdan Rozi and Shahril Razak, who are assisted by Ronald Van Vierman from Holland, are responsible for the training of all the yachtsmen," Malik said.

The yachting events in Thailand will be held at the Ocean Marina Yatch Club in Pattaya.

-- BERNAMA

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