Please select your home edition
Edition
ETNZ-STORE-728X90 two TOP

Chinese and Thais score tickets to Paris 2024 at Asian Sailing Championships

by 2023 Asian Sailing Championships 20 Dec 2023 07:48 NZDT 10-20 December 2023

Top Chinese and Thai sailors were greeted with cheers on their return to shore after the medal races at the 2023 Asian Sailing Championships being held at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Pattaya, Thailand. The Chinese scored a record haul of medals and six tickets to Paris 2024, and the Thais earned the highly coveted two additional tickets to the next Olympic Games in the ILCA 6 and 7.

Of 18 medals awarded at the event, the Chinese took all gold, four silver, and three bronze, including a gold for Hong Kong in the ILCA 7. In the 470 and Nacra 17, this was no surprise. In the ILCA 6, however, a sweep of all medals was thanks to Thailand's Sophia Montgomery, who chose to pass on medals in favor of protecting her position against India's Nethra Kumanan to achieve her goal, Olympic qualification.

"It's part of the game," said an understanding Kumanan, after Montgomery successfully forced her to the back of the medal race fleet to ensure Thailand would be the second country on the leaderboard.

Sophia flew into the arms of her family upon her return to shore, overcome by emotion. "I'm very, very proud and happy," she said, before launching into an Oscar worthy thank you list. "Everyone helped me. I didn't think it was possible. I couldn't have done this without everyone helping me," she gushed.

In the ILCA 7, Nicholas Halliday of Hong Kong, China, saw six years of effort pay off. He earned gold and a long-awaited ticket to the Olympic Games with but a three-point lead over silver. "I'm so happy. I've been training so long for this, and I am so excited," he said.

Silver went to Thailand's Arthit Mikhail Romanyk, who was the one besieged by reporters on the beach and carried atop his boat to his trailer. "It's been a great event. We had great conditions every day, a great race committee too. I want to thank my family and friends for coming along and cheering me on. It's been a very long journey and I'm very proud of myself to be able to do this with my team."

He made sure his sparring partner, Chusitt Punjamala, got equal recognition for his three wins in the fleet to Romanyk's zero. Similarly, Montgomery recognized her sister Grace, who surprised all with a fifth-place finish in the fleet despite having only just moved into the ILCA 6. All four were introduced to sailing at the host venue, the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, and could not have been more elated they delivered for not only their home country, but also their home club.

ILCA 6 gold medalist Min Gu of China was as ecstatic, having won not only the regatta but also her selection to represent the country in Paris 2024. "I'm very happy to be the champion in Pattaya, Thailand," she said, "and also very happy to get qualification for China joining the Olympic Games. It's very, very exciting."

Nacra 17 gold medalists Huicong Mai and Linlin Chen also win the right to sail in Paris 2024, this event a selection regatta as well.

The ILCA 7 bronze went to three-time Malaysian Olympian Khairulnizam Afendy, who would have lost on a tie-breaker to Indian Olympian Vishnu Saravan had Saravan not been penalized two points for an equipment inspection issue in the medal race quarantine zone earlier in the morning.

In the 49er, India's Prince Noble and Manu Francis managed to pierce the Chinese fleet's dominance, winning bronze in the class.

In the 49erFX, the Japanese team of Misaki Tanaka and Sera Nagamatsu took silver and Singaporeans Kimberly Lim and Cecilia Low won silver and bronze, both well-deserved after hard fought battles to break the Chinese chokehold at the top of the fleet.

The 2023 Asian Sailing Championship and Asian qualifier for Paris 2024 is organized by the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and the Royal Thai Navy, with the support of World Sailing and the Asian Sailing Federation. Sponsors include the Sports Authority of Thailand, Chonburi Province, and Pattaya City. The event is being staged at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Pattaya, Thailand, which also hosted the ILCA Asian and Oceanian Championship and the ILCA Master Worlds Championships in the past year.

For results, see www.pattaya-olympic-qualifier.com/results.

Related Articles

Bay of Islands Sailing Week is calling
Bay of Islands Sailing Week is calling - regular entries close on December 31 Seasoned sailors Rob Bassett and Brett Russell are rallying competitors to join what Peter Montgomery has called “the best-big boat regatta in NZ” as entries roll in for the 2025 Bay of Islands Sailing Week (BOISW). Posted on 12 Nov
SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody - Now just €50
Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: Was €120 | Now €50 - Order yours today! Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: WAS €120 | NOW €50 - Order yours today! Ideal Xmas gift for America's Cup fans! Get your souvenir hoody on the America's Cup champion! Posted on 7 Nov
Vendee Globe: 'Crazy Kiwi' racing on renewables
Conrad Colman plans on repeating his 2015/26 feat racing without the use of fossil fuel In the 2016 Vendee Globe, Conrad Colman became the first competitor in Vendee Globe history to finish without using a drop of fossil fuel during his circumnavigation. He plans on repeating the feat in the upcoming Vendee Globe race. Posted on 30 Oct
Predictwind is official partner of Vendee Globe
PredictWind will bring fans into the Vendée Globe action with a world-first Race Weather Centre Global leader in marine weather forecasting, PredictWind, has announced its official partnership with IMOCA - one of the fastest and most exciting offshore yacht racing classes - to become the exclusive Weather Data Supplier for the Vendée Globe 2024. Posted on 22 Oct
NZ Marine industry celebrates Am Cup Defence
NZ marine technology and innovation is used both by its own and other teams contesting the Cup While New Zealand sailors are considered among the world's best, the country's marine technology and innovation is used both by its own team, and by the teams contesting the America's Cup. Posted on 19 Oct
New facilities attract more superyachts to NZ
Superyacht attraction initiatives paying off as NZ Marine reports $212m superyacht economic boost A new report shows superyacht visitors injected $212m into the New Zealand economy in the 2023/4 season. The report has been released as New Zealand ramps up its superyacht attraction initiatives. Posted on 11 Oct
Cup Spy - Finals - Who dares, wins
The AC75 proved its ability to provide compelling viewing, match racing at speeds touching 55kts Critics of the AC75 and its suitability as a match racer for the America's Cup should be eating their words after Sunday's Blinder in Barcelona Posted on 30 Sep
Check the rules before summer boating starts 
Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across mar Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across marine pest risks and rules before heading out on the water this summer. Posted on 24 Sep
17 NZ marinas now on ‘Clean Marina journey'
Kiwi marinas make big steps in environmental performance : 17 marinas now on ‘Clean Marina journey' The $540 million marina and boatyard industry is on a mission to minimise its environmental impact, particularly in relation to coastal water quality. Posted on 21 Sep
Southern Spars at the Monaco Yacht Show
From America's Cup technology to the World's largest sailing catamaran: Connect with Southern Spars The Monaco Yacht Show is the showcase event for innovation in the superyacht industry and as the global leader in high-performance composite rig technology for luxury yachts, Southern Spars is excited to attend again in 2024. Posted on 19 Sep
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px-03 BOTTOMCollinsonCo 728x90 BOTTOMPredictWind - GPS 728x90 BOTTOM