National sailor Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif with the Malaysia flag after she won the Female U-19 Laser Radial event at the Singapore SEA Games on Tuesday. - IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/ The STAR
SINGAPORE: With her first SEA Games gold medal safely tucked away, national sailor Nur Shazrin Mohamad Latif is now shifting her focus to the women’s Laser Radial team event.
On Tuesday, the 17-year-old secured the girls’ Laser Radial individual gold medal in dominating fashion.
She had virtually won the gold on Monday after opening up an unassailable before the final race on Tuesday, which she won as well.
Thailand's Kanapan Pachatikapanya and Singapore's Samantha Yom Jingyi, were left to pick up second and third place.
Nur Shazrin, who will be joined by her sister Nurliyana and Khairunneeta Mohd Affendy in the team event, which starts at the Marina Bay on Thursday, is glad to have her elder sister by her side.
"Malaysia won the individual gold from Laser Radial so we should win the team event, too," said the Pasir Gudang local after her race.
"My sister is one of my biggest motivators so having her on the team is a big plus. We have trained well and have good team spirit,” she said.
Meanwhile, defending champion Khairulnizam Mohd Affendy had to settle for the silver in the men's Laser Standard event.
Singapore’s Colin Cheng Xinru won the gold, while Thailand’s Keerati Bualong picked up the bronze.
An emotional Khairulnizam claimed that bias judging affected his performance and caused Malaysia to lose the gold medal, which Malaysia won in the last two SEA Games - Indonesia (2011) and Myanmar (2013).
"Only the Thai sailor and I were penalised for aggressive sailing in the second race although the Singapore sailor was much more aggressive," said Khairulnizam.
"We had to race cautiously after that and I couldn't chase the Singapore sailor. It was hard for me to get back into the race after that setback.
"I'm quite sad that I could not defend the medal which we won in Indonesia and Myanmar, but we will reclaim it in 2017."
The next SEA Games will be held in Sarawak, Malaysia.
The Star Online
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