KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — The future of Malaysian waterskiing and wakeboard took a leap forward at the Asian Championships that closed in Bangkok tonight.
The "tiger cubs" of the young Malaysian squad finished with two golds, two silvers and a bronze - dwarfed in physical stature by the giants of Asia but holding their own in more than spirit.
On the final day of events today, "veteran" Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah finished with her first double-medal haul in Asian championships, adding a silver in the open women overall discipline at the conclusion of the finals in slalom and jump to add to the silver she won in tricks yesterday.
"This was totally unexpected," said mother and team manager Norzeela Sulaiman. "She is only currently ranked 5th in Asia (overall disciplines) behind Japanese skiers Saaya Hirosawa and Harue "Hutch" Kamiya, and (South) Koreans Jang Da-Hyeong and Kim Su Mi."
Unsaid is that Aaliyah is a tender 12 years old in an open women's event, on account of her having been an Asian champion (in tricks) at 9, and having won her first international title at 8.
On Thursday, Aaliyah leaves for Chapala, in Mexico, to take part in the International Waterski and Waterboard Federation Open (IWWF) World Waterski Championships.
"I am very happy with my performances here in the Asian Championships," said Aaliyah. "The upsides of the unexpected overall silver, my new PB (personal best) in slalom and qualifying for the finals in all three disciplines more than make up for my disappointment in the lapse in concentration in the tricks final (that cost her gold)."
Aaliyah was grateful for the support that has taken her so far. "I would like to thank my brother Alex and my sister Phillipa for helping me out in the slalom and jump events, dad (Hanifah Yoong Yin Fah) too in tricks," she said.
"Really appreciate all the support from my mum, teammates and team officials as well as MSN and my other sponsors too," she said, including the Malaysian Sports Council as it is known by its Bahasa acronym.
Aaliyah's performance tops a campaign in which none of Malaysia's medal winners is older than 14 in a programme in which the youngest age group events is under 17.
The gold medal winners were Arianna Chow in the under 17 girls, and Aaliyah's younger brother Aiden, 10, in the boys.
The bronze came in the under-17 team from the performances of Arianna, Aiden, and the youngest of the Yoong siblings at age 8, Adam, who finished 4th in the boys under-17.
"The Asian championship has been a revelation for the depth and breadth of the emerging talent in Malaysia," said team captain Alex Yoong, the former Formula One racing driver, who also qualified for the men tricks and jump finals..
"It augurs well for the future of watersports in Malaysia as a powerhouse in the region."
The result that exceeded expectations is reflected in the increasing support. Malaysia's participation in Bangkok is sponsored by MSN, Nautique Boats USA, Reflex Skis, MWWF and Waterski & Wakeboard World Cup Sdn. Bhd.
