KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 — At eight when most children are still focused on their books, Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah is already making a name for herself on the international stage as a champion water skier.
At the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia, the petite youngster bagged her first gold medal at a major international event.
Now, four years on, Aaliyah has once again set her eyes on claiming the limelight at the Singapore SEA Games from June 5 to 16. Not only that, she is determined to double her gold medal tally.
She is down to compete in women’s tricks and overall event in water skiing which is making a return to the SEA Games after a four-year lapse.
The youngest ever gold medalist in the SEA Games won the women’s trick event defeating Sareeya Promsuntisit of Thailand and fellow Malaysian Phillipa Clare back in 2011. 
Aaliyah, 11, standing at 143cm, is currently ranked 37th in the women’s open and seventh in the Under-17 (U-17) girls category globally.
Her father and head coach of the Malaysian Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (MWWF), Hanifah Yoong is confident that Aaliyah will become a world-class water skier.
“She is destined to be one of the world’s best athlete in water skiing or even become a world champion in water skiing within another five to six years when she turns 17,” he told Bernama, here, today.
The Kuala Lumpur-born water skier also holds the 2013 Asian Open Women Championship title, was four times Asian U-17 girl’s tricks champion (2011-2014) and four times Malaysian
Aaliyah is expected to represent the country in the women’s slalom, tricks, jump and overall event.
Watch out for Aaliyah at Singapore. — Bernama
