PETALING JAYA: Sailor Mohd Khairulnizam Afendy got a Hollywood boost before he takes part in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
No, not showbiz but the glittering Team Hollywood at the 2020 Royal Langkawi International Regatta (RLIR) Championship. The 26-year-old Khairulnizam joined the team as they swept aside all rivals at the regatta yesterday.
Khairulnizam said he was on the road to redemption after the national sailing team failed to deliver a single gold medal at the recent Philippines SEA Games.
The sailing team had set a four-gold target but came back only with two silvers and six bronzes from the competition in Subic.
Khairulnizam, who has already qualified for the Olympics after winning silver at the 2018 Indonesia Asian Games, could only manage a silver in the Philippines.
“Last month, I won the Laser Standard class at the Abu Dhabi International Regatta and now this win with Team Hollywood... these wins are definitely morale boosters after the SEA Games in the Philippines, ” said Khairulnizam.
“Racing with Team Hollywood is also a part of my preparation for my career when I quit individual racing... I want to gain experience racing with a professional team.”
“The stint with Team Hollywood allowed me to take a step back and enjoy sailing as a team. Although team racing is different compared to Laser standard class, there’s still much to learn from it.”
“When you race along with world-class professionals, you are bound to learn things. I will try to incorporate these lessons into my race.”
Defending champions Team Hollywood lived up to their favorites’ tag by winning the coveted Prime Minister Challenge Trophy yesterday.
Skippered by Ray Roberts, the professional team swept past the competition, winning eight races out of nine, finishing with 14 points.
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