The national sailors pose for a group shot after training at the Singapore SEA Games. - FAIHAN GHANI/ THe STAR
SINGAPORE: It was certainly worth the agony.
Malaysian sailor Muhammad Dhiauddin Rozaini had to endure a nerve-wrecking moment before the Optimist team emerged victorious over Singapore in the final at the Singapore National Sailing Centre.
On Sunday, the 15-year-old Dhiauddin was forced to watch his four-person team compete without him in the second race of the Under-16 final after being penalised by the race officials for a dangerous move.
Dhiauddin was found to have committed the offence after the Malaysian boat knocked into the Singaporean boat in the first race of the final.
But Nur Aisah Rose Ramlee (14), Nor Nabila Natasha Mohd Nazri (13), Abdul Latif Mansor (15) and skipper Muhammad Fauzi Kaman Shah (12) rose to the occasion to ensure victory for Malaysia.
“I felt so bad for the team ... I was worried that my mistake would cost us the gold,” said Dhiauddin after the prize-giving ceremony.
“I felt guilty as my team-mates’ workload increased in the second race. But it felt great when they beat Singapore in the end.”
The win was a marked improvement from the 2013 Myanmar SEA Games, where the team won the bronze. It also ended Malaysia’s 14-year wait for a gold in the event since the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in 2001.
The Star Online
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