Asian Games 2018 - a breezy start

Asian Games 2018. Bi Kun (CHN) leads the RS:X pack on day 1 © Carmelita

Sailing at the Asian Games 2018 started on 24 August at an intense pace in Ancol, Jakarta with all 144 competitors getting the full schedule of racing in gusty conditions that confronted the racers as they took to Jakarta Bay. With four different courses on the water, the race committee and local volunteers rose to the challenge of the day, got to grips with the building breeze and delivered racing that was spot on to open the competition.

In the 49er, the Asian Sailing Championship 2018 Gold Medallists, India’s Ganapathy/Varun opened the day at the office with one first place and slipped to fifth in the second place. The Korean pair of Chae Bonjin/Kin Dongwok lead the pack with 5 points and two teams on their tail with 6 points each.

In the 49erFX, Singapore’s Kimberley Min Lim / Cecilia Low who had a perfect day with two first positions are placed first overall and Chinese follow them in the second, India in third and Thailand in fourth. The novice Indonesian pair could not finish both the races.

Kimberley on her racing today, said “A very nice day. We are feeling good and were in tune with the shifts today.”

The Laser Radial saw a big see saw with the Japan’s Doi Manami scoring a 1 and 2. She is followed by Zhang Dongshuang of China and Nur Latif from Malaysia and Nethra Kumanan from India with 6 points each.

In the Laser Standard Korea’s Ho Jeemin leads the pack with steady finishes in both the races of the day. Singapore’s Ryan Lo and Malaysia’s Afendy Khairulnizam are second and third respectively.

In the 470 Men Wand Chao and Xu Zangjun of China leads with 3 points and Tetsuya Isozaki and Akira Takayanagi of Japan as second and Kin Chanju and Kim Jihoon of Korea are third.

In the 470 Women Japan’s Al Yoshid leads after two firsts and is followed by China and Singapore.

In the Laser 4.7 Open Wand Jianxiong of China leads followed by Kaman Shah Muhammad Fauzi of Malaysia and Poonpat Saranwong of Thailand.

Racing continues tomorrow with another two races for all the fleets scheduled.

Full results at http://www.asiansailing.org/asian-games-2018-sailing-competition-day-1/