S’pore women’s 470 sailors may get Olympic wildcard on Monday

WOMEN ON BOARD Deborah Ong and Toh Liying could get very good news on Monday.

ON FRIDAY, the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) gave the nod to the four sailors
nominated by SingaporeSailing to compete at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Koh Seng Leong will do battle off the waters in Qingdao in the Laser Standard, Lo Man Yi will fly
the Singapore flag in the Laser Radial competition, and Xu Yuanzhen and Terence Koh will carry the nation’s hopes in the men’s 470.

Two more sailors could get a late call up, as well. SNOC secretary-general Chris Chan revealed that they will know by Monday whether they will receive an extra spot in the women’s
470 class, through the International Sailing Federation’s (Isaf) Unused Quota Places.

SingaporeSailing had applied for unused quota places in the Laser Standard, Laser Radial and women’s 470 before the deadline of Nov 15 last year. Having qualified in two events, they still have a chance for the women’s 470.

“The Singapore pair for the women’s 470 didn’t qualify, but word has it that some quota places
have not been taken, and Singapore are next in line, if there is an offer for one team,” said Chan.

According to the Olympic Games sailing competition format, Isaf will confirm the re-allocation of unused quota places by June 30. If Singapore are offered a place, it is likely to go to either
Toh Liying and Deborah Ong, or Dawn Liu and Elizabeth Tan.

When contacted, SingaporeSailing chief executive officer Andrew Sanders would only say:
“SingaporeSailing are still discussing the plans concerning any unused quota positions.”

While the 470 women wait nervously for news, Xu and Terence have mixed feelings after getting the nod for the men’s 470 event. Xu, 23, and Terence, 20, pipped the more experienced pair of Roy Tay and Chung Pei Ming, the 2007 SEA Games champions who helped secure Singapore’s spot in the event at last July’s World Sailing Championship in Portugal.

Based on points from three recent meets stipulated as Olympic selection trials by SingaporeSailing, Xu and Terence scored 108 points, just two ahead of Tay and Chung.
Teo Wee Chin and Benjamin Tan were third on 152 points.

“We were very happy, but we kept it inside as we were all together when the news broke,” said Xu on Friday, speaking from Germany where they are currently taking part in the Kiel Regatta.

“We knew the others were very disappointed.” Tay and Chung had appealed the decision by SingaporeSailing to nominate Xu and Terence, but there’s no hard feelings among the
sailors.

“We’re still best friends,” said Tay, 25. “Of course, we’re very disappointed, but we knew the
stakes. “When Pei Ming and myself decided to appeal, we told (Xu) Zhen and Terence and they were cool about it. We’ve always maintained a clear distinction between friendship and competition.

“Even though we were not selected, the past couple of years haven’t gone to waste. The competition has seen all of us improve so much.”

Media reports suggest that the Olympic races may be re-scheduled to late afternoon when the winds pick up. Concerns over green algae growth in the Yellow Sea were also raised.
But the Republic’s sailors remain unfazed.

“It doesn’t matter if the races start later in the afternoon,” said Lo, 20. “We’ve been in situations
like that before and waiting is just part of the game.”

Added Xu: “The wind there can be light and unpredictable, averaging about just five knots.
“But we’ve been to Qingdao about four to five times to sail, so we have an idea of what to expect.”