Sailors Toh Liying / Deborah Ong and Dawn Liu / Elizabeth Tan were unsuccessful in qualifying Singapore for 2008 Olympic Games at the second and final Olympic qualifier for the 470 women event at the 470 World Championship in Melbourne, Australia.

The 470 women class has arguably the toughest qualifying criteria. Nineteen country slots are offered for 2008 Olympic Games (including one automatic entry for China, host nation) with five places up for grabs in this event.

Having not made the cut in the gold fleet in the qualifying series, the sailors were unable to qualify. To qualify for gold fleet, the sailors would need to finish in the top 29 positions. Toh Liying / Deborah Ong’s final position was 40th and Dawn Liu / Elizabeth Tan in 48th.

“In the penultimate race to qualify for gold fleet, Liying and Deborah were in the leading bunch for majority of the race with a good chance to make the gold fleet grade. However the wind shut down on them in the last leg to the finish and filled in from another direction to allow the back of the fleet to catch up and overtake them, costing them precious points.

“The sailors gave a good fight and put on a respectable display of sportsmanship to qualify. It becomes very difficult and tricky when the conditions do not prevail in your favour.

“The 470 women sailors have arrived at a very high level of sailing with only a year of intensive training. This experience will be very valuable to the team for future Olympics preparations,” said Dr Peter Logan, Team Leader and SingaporeSailing’s Olympic Squad High Performance Manager.

Meanwhile, Xu Yuan Zhen / Terence Koh have qualified for the gold fleet and are currently in 31st position.  Roy Tay / Chung Pei Ming and Justin Liu / Benjamin Tan are in 14th and 16th respectively in the silver fleet. Racing continues till 30 January.

Singapore’s 470 men sailors have qualified a berth for the country at last July’s ISAF World Championships in Portugal, finishing amongst the top 21 countries in the event to earn a slot for 2008 Olympics. Selection trials will decide which of the three pairs will sail in the Olympics.

Laser sailor Koh Seng Leong departed for Australia today to prepare for the Laser World Championship. He will endeavour to qualify Singapore in the Laser event for 2008 Olympics in the second and final qualifying event.

Event website: http://www.sailmelbourne.com.au/event/470worldchampionships2008