Malaysia on course for two sailing golds

by Malaysia Star on 15 Dec 2007 Malaysia are in contention for two gold medals from sailing after the penultimate day of competition at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Pattaya yesterday. Mohd Romzi Mohamad has a three-point lead over Singapore's Koh Seng Leong after 11 races in the International Laser event. Romzi has won seven races and finished second in the remaining races. Two discards are allowed, and only the Singaporean can deny Romzi the gold. Thai sailor Manat Phothong, who is in bronze medal position, has a total of 28 points.

In the Laser Radial competition, Nurul Elia Anuar is locked in a tight battle with Singapore's Siobhan Tam. Nurul has 12 points after 11 races and trail the Singaporean by just one point. Nurul has won five races, one few than Siobhan and has to beat the Singaprean today to take the gold.

Malaysia's hopes to maintain their proud record in the Optimist event is as good as over. Mohd Asri Nazrin is in third position in the boy's event with 16 points and trails Asian Games silver medallist Navee Thamsoontorn by four. Alissa Chew has the uphill task of overhauling a four-point deficit in the girls' event. She trailed Singapore's Rachel Lee in third place on 13 points. Mohd Asri Nazrin, Alissa, Mohd Afendy Kharunisa, Koh Boon Quan and Mohd Afendy Khairul Nizam secured a bronze for Malaysia in the optimist team racing on Wednesday. The team garnered three penalty points while Thailand beat the more fancied Singapore, silver medallists in the world championships, to the gold.