This 17-Year-Old Is Malaysia’s First Female Sailor To Compete At The Rio Olympics
Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif is the third Malaysian sailor to qualify for the Olympics.
By Tang Ruxyn — 15 Mar 2016, 09:58 AM
Malaysia has found its first female sailor to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics Games. It's none other than the young Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif.
Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif made history when she became the first Malaysian woman to officially qualify for the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
The Singapore SEA Games gold medalist produced a remarkable finish to win a silver medal behind K. Chanyim in the Laser Radial at the Asian Sailing Championships in Abu Dhabi, which effectively helped her seal the Rio slot.
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The 17-year-old is the third Malaysian sailor to qualify for the Olympics throughout history
“This is the first time I spent a month preparing at the venue before an event and it helped me a lot,” said Shazrin, who is the Singapore SEA Games gold medallist.
“I missed the cut at the Sailing World Cup in China last year, so I was determined to win my last chance."
“This regatta was a very good test as we faced different conditions ... thunderstorms and light winds,” she added.
“It also tested our patience as races were deferred. Still I never expect to compete in the Olympics in my first attempt,” said Shazrin.
The flurry of good news also includes national sailor Khairulnizam Afendy's achievement of securing a Rio Olympics quota slot for Malaysia in the men's department
On Sunday (13 March), Khairulnizam secured the country's quota for the event in style by bagging the gold medal at the Asian Sailing Championships in Abu Dhabi.
“It’s so good to qualify and I’m so proud how I sailed well this week. I kept following the wind, even if I was not in the best position. In the end it worked,” said the Langkawi lad.
Sailor Khairulnizam Afendy will do whatever it takes to live up to his billing as the continent’s flag bearer for Laser Standard in his second Olympic appearance in Rio de Janeiro in August.
That includes putting aside the chance to graduate with a Degree in Sports Science from Universiti Teknologi Mara this year.
Our heartiest congratulations to you, Shazrin and Khairulnizam!
Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif (3rd from left) and Khairulnizam Afendy (blue cap) with their teammates after their arrival at KLIA from the Asian Sailing Championships in Abu Dhabi.
Image via Samuel Ong/The Star