THERE was no wind – and so the win was given to national sailor Nur Shazrin Abdul Latif.
The overjoyed 25-year-old looked up to the sky and said thank you. Then, she dedicated her gold medal to her mother and the National Sports Institute (NSI) team that got her into shape in time for the Asian Games.
Shazrin was a picture of joy after it was confirmed that she had bagged the ILCA 6 gold medal at the Xiangshan Sailing Centre yesterday.
The cheerful lass had been down to compete in the decisive Race 12 today, but it was cancelled due poor wind conditions.
The winner was then decided based on the previous 11 races.
Shazrin had the lowest net point with 25, followed by Hong Kong’s Stephanie Norton with 37 net points, while Singapore’s Victoria Chan took bronze with 38 points.
In the previous Games in Jakarta-Palembang, Shazrin had won a bronze medal in the laser radial, which has now been renamed to ILCA 6.
Shazrin jokingly said that nature got her the win yesterday.
“I guess it was my luck that the race got cancelled because there was no wind. When it was confirmed, I just looked to the sky and said thank you,” she said.
“I am grateful that I was able to stay consistent from Race One to 11. I will only grow from this experience.
Girls wanna have fun: Nur Shazrin Abdul Latif (centre) joking around with silver medallist Stephanie Norton (left) of Hong Kong and bronze medallist Victoria Chan of Singapore during the medal ceremony. — Reuters
“As an athlete, you want to complete all the races but this is the nature of the sport, it depends on the conditions around us. I guess nature wanted me to win.
This win is not just for me. My mother (Rosni Ab Rahman) is celebrating her birthday on Sept 30, so I have given her an advanced gift. And also to the National Sports Institute (NSI).
“At the end of last year, my dominant right hand was injured, with my ligament, nerves and muscles all affected. The NSI team saw me through six months of recovery.
She only returned to training in July and had two months of intensive training before the Asiad. Her win also means she has also qualified for the Paris Olympics next year.
It will be her third Olympics after Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
“For me to win a medal in Paris, I need to make sure I am free from injury and go all out in training. For now, I am targeting a top 20 finish in Paris. I am hopeful I will get stints overseas, whether training or competitions.”
In Rio, she finished 26th in the laser radial and in Tokyo, she was 33rd.
