The 19th Asian Games (SSL 1000) is taking place at Hangzhou, China, with many of the top sailors from the region taking part.
The sailing competition takes place at the Ningbo Xiangshan Sailing Centre from today, Thursday 21st September, with the Medal Races taking place Tuesday 26th September and Wednesday 27th September.
In total 103 boats with 129 crew are taking part with the biggest class being the Men’s ILCA 7, counting 13 competitors. Nations involved are Bahrain, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, and the United Arab Emirates.
The classes involved at the ILCA 4, 6 & 7, the 49er & 49erFX, the 470, Nacra 17, IQFoil & RS:X windsurfing and Formula Kite.
On day 1 China’s Tian Liu and Zaiding Wen were looking good in the Men’s 49er with a 2nd and 1st in races 1 and 2 respectively, until they picked up a UFD in the third race, meaning Korea’s Kyoungduk Kim and Sangwoo Bae lead with a 1,2,3 scoreline after the first day.
Japan’s Keiju Okada and Miho Yoshioka are the stand-out favourites in the Mixed 470, having won gold at the Allianz Sailing World Championship 2023, and on day 1 they recorded a perfect 1, 1 scoreline to start their event in style.
China’s Mengyuan Shan and Xiaoyu Hu have started well in the Women’s 49er FX, scoring 2,1,2 in the opening three races to lead from Singapore’s Kimberly Min Lim and Rui Qi Cecilia Low who scored 3,3,1.
Consistency has been hard to find in the Women’s ILCA 6 class, with India’s Nethra Kumanan climbing up the fleet in both races to lead after a 4,2 scoreline on the first day.
Singapore’s Xiaman Justin Liu and Xiaman Justin Lim have opened up well in the Mixed Nacra 17, class recording a 1,1,2 scoreline, only being beaten in the final race of the day by China’s Huancheng Zhao and Saibo Wang.
The final class to race on day 1 was the Men’s ILCA 7, where Korea’s Jeemin Ha finished 2nd and 1st in the two races held to lead into day two.
You can follow the results at this SSL 1000 event as they happen via info.hangzhou2022.cn/en/results/sailing/daily-schedule.htm
Mark has been managing sailing websites since 1996, always being at the forefront of technology, and now manages the combined Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com network. He has covered events such as the International Moth World Championship and Cowes Week, focusing on the sailors' thoughts and words. Mark has been European Champion in the Farr 30 & J/24 class and has won numerous UK titles, and competes regularly in local and national events in dinghies and sportsboats.