More Silver for Singapore at Optimist Worlds

by SingaporeSailing on 26 Jul 2008 Singapore has won another silver medal at the 2008 Optimist World Sailing Championships which ended yesterday in Turkey. 14 year old Singapore Sports School student Rachel LEE Qing (176 points) emerged as the second best female sailor, improving on her bronze position last year, to take silver behind Japan’s Tomoyo Wakabayashi (128 points). China’s LU Yu Ying (192 points) took bronze in the girls’ division.

Puerto Rico’s Raul RIOS clinched the world champion title with a lead of 38 points, followed by Ian BARROWS from U.S. Virgin Islands (95 points) and Kristien KIRKETERP from Denmark (120 points).

Singapore’s Russell KAN also fared well, finishing in tenth position overall with 172 points in his fourth consecutive world championship. Luke TAN completed the regatta in 65th position, Darren CHOY in 129th position and Andrew Tang in 154th.

On Sunday, Singapore was defeated by Puerto Rico in the team-racing event, taking silver in a very close finish.

Singapore have so far performed consistently winning at least two titles each year at the Optimist World Sailing Championships over the last three years. In 2006, Singapore won an unprecedented three out of four titles (1st in girls’ division, 1st in team-racing and best nation). Last year, Singapore took home silver in the team-racing event and bronze in girls’ division.

The team representing Singapore in Turkey includes:
Darren CHOY Wong Loong (129th / 250)
Russell KAN Tsung Liang (10th / 250)
Rachel LEE Qing (11th / 250)
Luke Tan Yi Hao (65th / 250)
Andrew TANG En Han (154th / 250)
Jefri ISMAIL – Team Manager
Fernando ALEGRE - Coach
Edwin LOW – Country Representative

For complete results: http://www.optiworld2008.com/results/final_results.htm