KUALA LUMPUR: SSL Team Malaysia defied the odds to become the only Asian team to edge closer to the quarter-finals of the inaugural Star Sailors League (SSL) Gold Cup in Gran Canaria, Spain.
The national keelboat team, nicknamed the Monsoon, powered their way through after finishing second behind Chile in Fleet 1 of the top 16 elimination round to advance to the quarter-finals of the competition, seen as the World Cup of sailing.
Malaysia made the cut for the second round after finishing top of Group 3 comprising Bermuda, Antigua and Barbuda, and Ukraine.
The national keelboat crew will take on Argentina and the United States - two of the eight nations from the 9-16 bracket in the SSL world rankings - and Hungary in the next round.
From the start, the Monsoon was led by Khairulnizam Mohd Affendy as the helmsman, aided by tactician and Asian Games gold medallist, Nur Shazrin Mohamad Latif, 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 Azman (Floater), Mohd Amsyar Syahmi Mohd Ajwi (Spare Trimmer) and Ahmad Khairulhafiz Mohd Khambali (Spare Floater).
However, team captain Megat Danial Megat Najmuddin, said with two team members having to return to Kuala Lumpur for various reasons, changes had to be made ahead of the top 16 round.
Asri had to return to Malaysia to help prepare the national back-up team bound for the Asian Sailing Championship in Pattaya next month, while Ahmad Syukri's wife is expecting a baby.
"Each and every team member sacrificed a lot to compete here. Indeed, we are elated to be the only Asian team to reach this far but we hope our adventure in the Canary Islands does not end here," said Megat Danial.
Spare floater, Khairulhafiz, will be taking over the offside trimmer role from Ahmad Syukri while Mohd Saifullah Mohd Esa (bowman) and Rizal Mahadi Sazili (spare floater) have been summoned to join the Monsoon.
As one of the 16 lowest ranked teams, Malaysia competed in the knockout Round of 32 on Nov 10-13, where they survived the elimination round along with Bermuda, Estonia, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa and Tahiti.
Chile and Antigua & Barbuda were awarded "lucky loser" places, keeping them in the race for the top 16 elimination round on Nov 16-19.