Malaysia top table with six medals
By Suman Malla
Sunday 8 Feb 2009 - Gulf Times
MALAYSIA finished as the best sailing nation for the second time in as many years, as they bagged six medals, including two gold in the 17th Qatar International Regatta which concluded at the Doha Sailing Club yesterday.
With a total of five medals, including a gold and silver, Qatar finished second on the medal standings, while Algeria secured third place overall with one gold and two silver medals.
President of Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation Khalifa M al-Suweidi, gave away awards and certificates to the top sailors in each category at a special function held later in the evening.
The winners in each category received $1000 in prize money, while runners-up and third-placed finishers each walked away with $500 and $300.
More than 100 sailors from 22 countries competed over a week in six classes.
While strong winds had affected the regatta for the first couple of days, low wind kept the sailors off waters yesterday, with the exception of the Laser 4.7 class. And the racing committee declared final results based on fifth-day standings.
Qatar's Hassan al-Tamimi put in a gallant effort on the last day of the event, coming home first in the final race of Laser 4.7.
His mistake in the 10th race on Friday meant he needed the eventual winner Wassim Ziani to finish below third. But it was not to be as the Algerian crossed the line in second place to secure his win with 17 points, two ahead of al-Tamimi.
Bahrain's Oman Abdulaziz Ahmed completed the podium in third place on 24 points.
"I did exactly what I needed to do in the final race," said the Qatari youngster afterwards, ruing on the 16-point penalty for Friday's rule infringement. "I also needed something extra to finish ahead of Wassim. But he was behind me all around to deny me the win."
So it was the pair of Amro Yosry Shouhdy and Ali M al-Safran who fetched Qatar their only gold medal in the week-long regatta.
They were followed by Iranians Majid Sefisan Gachini and Issa Pour Beshman in second, while another Qatari pair of Fahad Adsania and Mohammed Ismail settled for third place.
Qatar's other silver medal came in the Optimist under-12 where 11-year-old secured 104 points to stand second to UAE's winner Hamood al-Zaidi who finished on 100 points. Bahraini Ebrahim Khalifa scored 111 to take home a bronze medal. Waleed al-Sharshani, eyeing for a second place in Laser Radial, settled for third place on 23 points.
Bahrain's Abdulla Rahim Abdulla won the class with 10 points, while Adil Mohammed of UAE finished second on 20 points.
Algerian Tahar Selmane felt he was hard done by low winds when the 12th race in Laser Standard was called off yesterday. Sitting on 14 points, only one point behind South Africa's Rudy Lloyd McNeill, Selmane had hoped to turn around the tables.
"It was sad we had to end this way. With only one point separating the two, there was everything to race for," said a disappointed Selmane.
But he sounded optimistic about his prospects for the upcoming Mediterranean regatta. "It was very interesting racing from day one, especially the duel between myself and the South African guy. I hope this experience will help me when I compete next time."
Fellow Algerian Mohammed Ali Soukeur finished third on 29 points.
The Malaysians completed a clean sweep of Optimist and 470, with Ahmad Latif finishing the best among the beginners and Ku Anas and Mohammed Afiq taking the honours in the other class.
However, Malaysia who were tipped to be dominant in the regatta, failed to match their last year's feat of seven medals, including four gold, suggesting their domination over entire classes.
"Several of our top sailors who here last year are currently competing in Australia," said Malaysia team leader Mohammed Afendy Abdullah.
"But we are happy with our achievement here. And we'll come back next year and hope to put up a strong performance."
Final Standings
Optimist (Open): 1. Ahmed Latif (MAS) 11pts, 2. Muhammed Farhan (MAS) 19pts, 3. Nur Liyana (MAS) 32pts
Optimist U-12: 1. Hamood al-Zaidi (UAE) 100pts, 2. Mohd al-Muhannadi (QAT) 104pts, 3. Ebrahim Khalifa (BRN) 111pts.
Laser 4.7: 1. Wassim Ziani (ALG) 17pts, 2. Hassan al-Tamimi (QAT) 19pts, 3. Omar Abdulaziz Ahmed (BRN) 24pts.
Laser Radial: 1. Abdulla Rahim Abdulla (BRN) 10pts, 2. Adil Mohammed (UAE) 20pts, 3. Waleed al-Sharshani (QAT) 23pts.
Laser Standard: 1. Rudy Lloyd McNeill (RSA) 13pts, 2. Tahar Selmane (ALG) 14pts, 3. Mohd Ali Soukeur (ALG) 29pts. 470: 1. Ku Anas/Mohd Afiq (MAS) 13pts, 3. Nurul Elia/Siti Noorbaidurah (MAS) 15pts, 3. Megat Ahmed/Mohd Hanafi (MAS) 22pts
Hobie 16: 1. Amro Yosry Shouhdy/Ali M al-Safran (QAT) 8pts, 3. Issa Pour Beshman/Majid Seyfisan Gachini (IRN) 30pts, 3. Fahad Adsani/Mohd Ismail (QAT) 35pts.