Dominant display takes Koo into semi-finals

2009/11/26

By Zainuddin Muhammadnstsport@nst.com.my

Koo Racing team-AC Law skipper Jeremy Koo Wui Ken stamped his superiority with a top of the table finish in the round-robin series on the third day of the Malaysia Match Racing Championships at Ri-Yaz Heritage Resort and Spa in Pulau Duyong yesterday. The two-time winner of the Monsoon Cup national qualifiers in 2006 and 2007 with Selangor Gapurna Team, is now through to the semi-final round where he will race against his choice opponent, Taring Pelangi skipper Hazwan Hazim Dermawan today.

Koo, who thus far has lost only one race out of 12 -- to Malaysia Armed Forces One captain Mohamad Razali Mansor -- said the defeat to the navy officer was a wake up call for him and his crew.

"Finishing in first place means I get to choose my semi-final opponent and although I have a score to settle with Razali, I prefer to meet him in the final should I be able to get past Hazwan," he said.

Hazwan, who finished fourth in the round-robin series with eight wins and four losses, said he was delighted to make the cut for the semi-finals after the race committee decided to do away with the quarter-final round due to time constraints.

Razali, third on the leaderboard, credited perfect sailing weather with the sun shining all day yesterday and the wind blowing up to 17 knots for his unbeaten run of six races.

"Continuous rain and inconsistent wind on the first two days made it a little hard for us but we did fine today (yesterday) by winning all our races to take our round-robin tally to 10 wins and two losses.

"I am also looking forward to a re-match with Sail Putrajaya young skipper Nurul Elia Anuar in the semi-finals as I want to make amends after losing to her on the first day," he said.

Nurul used to train under Razali and is now the only female skipper left in the competition after Asian Yachting Team skipper Nazreen Abdul Ghani failed to progress.