sports
Khairulnizam among 8 Malaysian sailors to qualify for Rio
The 2016 ASAF Asian Championships served as the final qualifying tournament for the Asian sailors to vie for a spot to the Rio Olympics. – Screenshot ASAF website, March 13, 2016. National men's elite sailor, Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy is among eight Malaysian sailors who qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics Games in Brazil.
The 22-year-old sailor booked a ticket to Rio after winning the gold medal in the Laser Standard event with 30 penalty points after eight races in the 2016 ASAF Asian Championships which concluded at the Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club.
“I have had a solid week, I worked hard for this and I am happy to be able to win a spot for Rio 2016. It’s good to sail in front," Khairul Nizam was quoted as saying in the ASAF website.
The victory sees the Kedah-born sailor make his second appearance in the Olympics after the 2012 edition in London, England.
Two other Malaysian sailors – Ahmad Latif Kahn Ali Sabri Khan and Muhammad Farhan also qualified to Rio after finishing third and eighth, respectively with 38 and 70 penalty points.
Five other Malaysian women's sailors, on the other hand, created history after qualifying for the Olympics for the first time.
They are Rufina Tan/Connie Rivera in the 49er FX Women event, Khairulnizam's younger sister, Khairuneeta and also Mohd Latif siblings – Nurliyana and Nur Shazrin in the Laser Radial event.
The 2016 ASAF Asian Championships served as the final qualifying tournament for the Asian sailors to vie for a spot to the Rio Olympics. – Bernama, March 13, 2016.
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