THE Pakistani Sailing team left for Pusan, South Korea on September 15, 2001 from Karachi to participate in the 10th Asian Sailing Championship. The team included players in five different classes and some of the best sailors in the country. A coach and a team leader accompanied the team.
The next day (September 17) after Pakistan’s Team arrival at Pusan, measurements of the equipment was done to make sure that everything was according to the strict rules that are imposed by the International Sailing Federation (ISF). After that the organizers arranged a practice race of what was to come. Most of the sailors used it to check out the competition and to analyze the racing area. Throughout the practice race winds were light adding to the spirits of the young Pakistani team of Shehryar and Riaz who favoured the condition.
The first race was held on September 18. The winds picked up to about 20 knots and the young pair had great difficulty handling the boat with elder sailors. However due to pure hard work they were able to remain in the top three throughout the race. Similar situation was witnessed in the second race held on the same day and again the light pair of Shehryar and Riaz had to struggle to maintain their position.
The second day of the championship and the third race started in pretty much the same conditions as that of the first two races. However with certain adjustment in their boat, Shehryar and Riaz were able to perform much better and won the third race with a considerable margin. They were again leading in the second race but were pushed back to fourth due to certain rule irregularities. At the end of the second day of competition this Pakistani pair was lying second overall. Just three points behind the leader.
The next day saw the strongest winds of the championship yet and as the championship progressed the strongest ever. Only four boats managed to finish. The fifth race was cancelled because of the storm that was wreaking havoc at the venue. The organizing committee was a bit slow in responding here, not cancelling the races immediately and sending the boats back as soon as possible. Most of the boats had a very hard time coming back in. Some being towed by the judges who were present to see that all the rules are enforced. The next day originally scheduled to be rest day was cancelled and the sailors were told that the cancelled race would be held on this date. However the wind did not die down and all races were again cancelled. The fourth day had a schedule of three races in order to cover up the one that was lost due to strong winds. This day the wind has started to die down and Shehryar/Riaz were thinking of making the best use of the opportunity. The 6th race started in ideal conditions for the pair and they won the race easily. The 7th race was also won by them whereas they came 2nd in the 8th race. This greatly improved their overall position and saw at the top of the leader’s board with a three points lead and just three more races to go.
However, luck was not with them. The conditions that they had enjoyed in the last three races left and now the 9th and 10th races were sailed in much stronger winds. Here again due to certain reasons, the course was substandard and not the kind of course that is normally put in an international championship. The course was of particular disadvantage to Shehryar/Riaz because of their light weight. The day saw them having 6th and 7th positions and pushed them down to 3rd place overall.
The last day of the championship saw the top three positions being contested very aggressively. The competition was between Shehryar/Riaz and the Korean team for the third place and between the Indian and the Korean teams for the first place. Shehryar/Riaz were able to hold on to their overnight positions and claimed bronze medal. They were the only medal winners out of the Pakistani contingent.
President PSAF Rear Admiral Mohammad Haroon appreciated the performance of the team. PSAF is also planning to give extensive training at home and abroad to tune them for the Asian Games.
Pakistan would prepare its younger lot for future international events.
THE Pakistani Sailing team left for Pusan, South Korea on September 15, 2001 from Karachi to participate in the 10th Asian Sailing Championship. The team included players in five different classes and some of the best sailors in the country. A coach and a team leader accompanied the team.
