Asian champ Aaliyah is hot for Rabbit Lake

BANGKOK: National waterskier Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah (pic) is no stranger to the waters at Rabbit Lake in Min Buri, Bangkok.

Along with her younger brothers Aiden, 19, and Adam, 17, the 22-year-old won seven gold medals in the Asian Championships in June at the same venue.

That sensational result has left Aaliyah feeling buoyant about the SEA Games.

“I’m feeling confident for my team and myself to produce good results,” said Aaliyah, who studies at Florida Southern College.

“We just had our familiarisation at the lake, and everyone did well and adapted to the conditions very well.”

Aaliyah, who has six SEA Games gold medals under her belt, added that the competition in Bangkok this time was a team format with four medals up for grabs: team wakeboard, team wakesurf, slalom waterski, and team cable wakeboard.

“Team competitions are different from individual competitions,” she said.

“All of us in the team need to lend each other moral support to carry the whole team across the finishing line.

“But we hope we can win gold,” she said.

Aaliyah currently holds the Asian tricks event record with 8,450 points and became the first Asian woman to finish in the top 10 in the jump, tricks, and overall categories at a World Championship when she competed in Italy in September.