Malaysian sailors (from left) Muhammad Farhan, Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy and Ahmad Latif Ali Sabri Khan won gold in the men's team laser event at the Singapore SEA Games. - FAIHAN GHANI/ The STAR
SINGAPORE: The national sailors are flying home.
That’s the very least for their sensational showing of winning seven gold medals at the Singapore SEA Games.
And with five silvers and two bronze, it’s their biggest medal haul in the biennial games.
The team grabbed three gold medals on the final day of sailing at Marina Bay on Sunday.
The women’s team of Khairunneeta Mohd Affendy (pic below, right) and the Mohd Latif sisters - Nur Shazrin (left) and Nurliyana beat Singapore’s Victoria Chan, Elizabeth Yin and Jessica Goh to win the team laser radial event.
Khairulnizam Mohd Effendy led Muhd Farhan Hamid and Ahmad Latif Khan to gold in the laser standard team event.
And the day started with gold from Muhammad Uzair Amin Mohd Yusof and Naquib Eiman Shahrin in the men’s 420 event, which incidentally gave Malaysia her 50th gold medal at the Games.
In the laser radial final, both teams finished with a win each but the third deciding race was cancelled due to time limitation and the Malaysians won on count back.
“We came by bus to Singapore and the team management promised we will return home by flight if we win seven gold medals here... now we will and we are so happy for it,” said a jubilant Khairuneeta.
“It was a close race, we were disappointed to lose the first race but we quickly bounced back to win the gold medal... we never gave up and I think this is the reason for the win.”
Khairulnizam dedicated his gold medal to deputy chief de mission Dr. Shamala.
The sailor got into trouble for criticising the race juries after failing to defend his laser standard individual gold medal.
“I dedicate this medal to Dr.Shamala, she was very supportive of me when I got into trouble with the organisers,” said Khairulnizam, who later issued an apology.
“I was hungrier to win the gold medal after missing out the individual event gold... we all really fought hard and it turned well for us.”
The Star Online
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