KUALA LUMPUR: The The SSL Team Malaysia made a striking entrance into the second round of the Star Sailors League (SSL) Gold Cup in Gran Canaria, Spain, yesterday.
They asserted their dominance by clinching the top spot in Fleet 3 overall, showcasing exceptional performance during the initial four days of elimination races.
Steered by three-time Olympian Khairulnizam Mohd Affendy, and guided by the strategic insights of Hangzhou Asian Games gold medallist Nur Shazrin Mohamad Latif as the tactician, Malaysia claimed the leading position in Fleet 3 with an impressive 16 points.
Bermuda came in second with 12 points, followed by Antigua and Barbuda and Ukraine sitting in third and fourth position respectively.
Khairulnizam, aiming for a spot in his fourth consecutive Olympics in Paris 2024, expressed joy over the result.
"It was truly a special performance as we dramatically ended Race 4 by finishing first. We came close on two occasions on winning Race 1 and Race 3 and to be able to cut the next round of elimination gives us a reason to celebrate," said Khairulnizam.
Team captain, Megat Danial Megat Najmuddin said the team have a cause for celebration as it marked an achievement of sorts for Malaysia, as the national sailors don't usually get to sail keelboats at this level.
"We were indeed very proud to go this far as our sailors are not accustomed to competing as a team as most of them come from the Laser category of single-handed or doubled-handed dinghy background," said Megat.
"To have advanced to the second round of elimination in the presence of our royal patron, His Highness Tengku Amir Shah ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah was indeed a momentous occasion."
In the upcoming 1/16 elimination round scheduled from Nov 16-19, Malaysia are set to compete against Austria, Chile, and Estonia
Should Malaysia defy expectations by securing a top-two finish in Fleet 1 during the 1/16 round, the national keelboat crew will face off against two of the eight nations from the 9-16 bracket in the SSL world rankings during the 1/8 elimination round.
Besides Khairulnizam and Nur Shazrin, the SSL Team Malaysia comprise regatta veteran Ahmad Faizul Aswad Mohamed (Grinder), Ahmad Hakhimi Ahmad Shukri (Trimmer), Ahmad Syukri Abdul Aziz (Offside Trimmer), Mohd Azhar Sadon Zubir
(Pitman), Uzair Amin Mohd Yusof (Mainsail Trimmer), Mohd Akiyuddin Mat Zaki (Bowman), Asri bin Azman (Floater), Mohd Amsyar Syahmi Mohd Ajwi (Spare Trimmer) and Ahmad Khairulhafiz Mohd Khmbali (Spare Floater).