The 19th Asian Games (SSL 1000) in Hangzhou, China is being a superb event for the host nation in the sailing, with China securing gold in the mixed Nacra 17, the 49er, and the 49erFX, as well as silver in the Mixed 470 class.
In the Mixed Nacra 17 class China’s Huancheng Zhao and Saibo Wang overhauled Singapore’s Xiaman Justin Liu and Xiaman Justin Lim to take home gold, with the Singapore team finishing 10 points behind to take silver, and Japan’s Shibuki Uka and Oura Nishida Capiglia securing bronze.
Japan’s World Champions in the Mixed 470, Keiju Okada and Miho Yoshioka, held their nerve to clinch gold, despite a UFD in race 9 which left the result in the balance until the final race. China’s Wenju Dong and Jingsa Wang comfortably won silver ahead of Korea’s Jia Kim and Sungmin Cho.
The Women’s 49er FX class saw the tightest battle for the top spot, with China’s Mengyuan Shan and Xiaoyu Hu taking gold, just 2 points ahead TANAKA Misaki Tanaka and Sera Nagamatsu. Singapore’s Kimberly Min Lim and Rui Qi Cecilia Low were just 5 points behind in bronze.
In the Men’s 49er China’s Zaiding Wen and Tian Liu had to overcome several disasters, including an OCS, a DSQ and a UFD, but thanks to consistently being in the top three in their other races they still managed to win by four points from Oman’s Musab Mohammed Sulaiyam Al Hadi and Waleed Issa Al-Habashi Al-Kendi. The battle for silver and bronze was incredibly intense, with just 3 points separating 4 boats. In the end Hong Kong’s Akira Luke Sakai and Russell Williams Aylsworth took bronze on a tie-break.
Medal races will be held for the Men’s ILCA 7 and Women’s ILCA 6 classes on Wednesday.
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.