KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — The anticipated challenge in open women tricks final today at the Asian Championships waterski and wakeboard between fancied Malaysian Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah and Jiang Hui, of China, fizzled when Aaliyah fell on her first pass and had it all to do to catch her perennial rival.
Aaliyah composed herself, but a clean second run was not enough to overhaul Jiang, who retained her Asian tricks crown with 4,380 points to Aaliyah’s 4,160. Japan’s Saaya Hirosawa was third on 3,220.
In the preliminary round yesterday to determine the race order in the final, Aaliyah, 12, had eclipsed the field to amass 5,650 points, close to her personal best in practice of 6,500, to claim the honour of performing her tricks last in the final. Jiang, 23, was second on 4,680.
In the final today, with the benefit of knowing the task before her after Jiang’s run, Aaliyah fell early in her hand run, her first. A best ever perfect 100 per cent toe pass on her second run could not make up for her lapse in concentration.
For a second year in the Asian championships, Aaliyah had to be content with a silver to her friend in sporting rivalry, who the previous day had conveyed her congratulations to Aaliyah on Facebook.
Aaliyah had won the Asian title as a 10-year-old in 2013 before she lost it to Jiang last year.
Aaliyah was inconsolable, but said after: “Darn, I lost concentration for a split second and lost control. That sank my chances.
“That’s why sports is so exciting. Never know who will win till when the race is over.”
She added: “Just not my day but congratulations to Jiang Hui as she deserved the win. I will fight another day.”
Tomorrow, Aaliyah will seek to protect a potential silver in the open women overall, which takes in the slalom and jump finals for which Aaliyah also qualified, in addition to tricks.
After the preliminary rounds for the three disciplines, Aaliyah is second to Saaya. Slalom is scheduled for 8am, and jump at 1.45pm.
Malaysia’s medals tally is two golds, one silver and one bronze.
The golds came on the first day of medal performances yesterday, from Arianna Chow, 14, in the girls under-17 tricks event, and Aaliyah’s brother Aiden, 10, in the boys.
The bronze was for team performances in the under-17 age group, from the performances of Arianna, Aiden and the youngest of the Yoong siblings, Adam, 8, who finished fourth in the boys.
