Malaysian medallists at 24th SEA Games

by New Straits Times on 15 Dec 2007 Mohd Romzi Muhammad and Nurul Elia Anuar salvaged a disappointing sailing outing for Malaysia in the Platu class by winning two gold medals in Laser and Optimist at Pattaya yesterday.

Romzi clinched the Laser Standard gold by winning Race 11 to open a three-point lead over Singapore's Koh Seng Leong. He ended the final race in third position but was able to discard that result as his worst score to finish with 13 points net as Koh took silver on 16 while Manat Phothong of Thailand was a distant third on 30 points.

SEA Games rookie Nurul Elia edged Singapore's Siobhan Tam to the Laser Radial gold medal on countback in the three-sailor race as she won the decisive Race 12 to finish tied on 14 points net. The win had special meaning for Romzi who had to settle for silver behind another Singaporean, Max Soh in the Manila SEA Games two years ago. 'This win makes up for the disappointment in Manila as I beat a Singaporean for gold. This time I sailed smart and avoided making silly mistakes. In the last race, I knew I just had to finish to win gold,' said Romzi, 21.

Nurul Elia, who was trailing by a point entering the last race, had to fight hard for her gold medal. 'The wind was very light, just like what I am used to in Port Dickson (where she trains). Before this the wind was much stronger, which was not to my advantage,' said Nurul Elia, the Doha Asian Games bronze medallist in the Laser 4.7 class.

Mohd Nazrin Muiz Mohd Asri claimed the silver in the boys' Optimist behind Navee Thamsoontorn of Thailand, while Alissa Chiew won the bronze in the girls' Optimist with Singapore's Rachel Lee and Thailand's Poonpat Nppakao taking gold and silver respectively.

Nurul Ain Md Isa and Noor Balqis Yaacop won silver in women's International 470 behind Singapore, while Hairuddin Han settled for bronze in the Super Mod.

Rufina Tan, Doha Asian Games gold medallist in the girls' Optimist, was left without a medal this time after finishing last of four pairs with partner Mabel Lim in the women's International 420.

The men's International 420 pair of Ku Anas Ku Jamil and Amir Muizz Djamaludin only managed a bronze behind Singapore and Philippines.

The two gold medals represented an improvement on Alvin Yeow's sole gold medal in the boys' Optimist in Manila, although the sailors fell short of the Malaysian Yachting Association's target of five golds.