KUALA LUMPUR: Water skier Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah claimed her first ever podium finish in the tricks event at the Nautique Waterski US Junior Masters in Atlanta on Friday.
Aaliyah, who won three gold medals at last year’s Kuala Lumpur Sea Games, earned 6,400 points for silver, finishing behind Canadian Paige Rini on 8,020 while American Kristen Baldwin took third with 5,570.
Aaliyah was pleased with her effort.
“I am quite satisfied with my runs because I managed to stand up on my first pass, which is the toes tricks, in both the first and final rounds,” said Aaliyah.
“I did fall on my last trick which was the fifth flip and it is something that I still need to work on.”
Malaysian Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (MWWF) head coach Hanifah Yoong said: “She is eligible to compete in the junior events for another four years.
“The target is for her to win the junior tricks next year, so that she can move up to the pro women’s level in two or three years time,” said Hanifah.
The successful US Junior Masters outing concludes the national team’s month-long stint in the United States.