Sports / Team China |
China, Singapore lead sailing races(Xinhua)Updated: 2006-12-09 21:50
Sailors from China and Singapore have been leading the sailing races at the 15th Asian Games after Friday's action. After four days of competition, Chinese place first at the events of the Laser Radial Open, men's Mistral heavy, men's Optimist and women's Mistral. China's world champion Xu Lijia returned to the top overall at the Laser Radial Open class following two first-place finishes and one second on Friday. "I feel much better today because of the strong wind," Xu told Xinhua at the Doha Sailing Club after finishing the races on the open sea. China's Ni Wei, 15, finished the competition of men's Optimist on Friday with two firsts and a second, boasting a solid nine- point lead over second-placed Navee Thamsoontorn from Thailand. Yao Xinhao from China has led the men's Mitral heavy event and his compatriot Chen Lina is now joint first overall with Chan Wai Kei from Hong Kong of China at the women's Mistral. Chen Lina, who declined to comment on her rivals, told Xinhua that she just wanted to focus on the competition and to do her best. Meanwhile, sailors from Singapore are leading at four events, namely, the Laser Standard, women's 420, men's 420 and the Open Laser 4.7. Justin Liu Xiaman, the Singaporean skipper for the men's 420, said that Japan was the major competitor for his team and Myanmar was also progressing. Singapore had another strong day in the match racing, winning all their races on Friday to stand first overall. South Korea and Japan, two traditional powers in sailing in the previous Asian Games, are leading the men's 470 event and women's 470 respectively. Each of the 13 sailing events, except the match racing in Beneteau First Class 7.5, will churn out the final results after 12 races.
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