Nov 18, 2011

Indonesia - SEA Games: Eight-year-old Malaysian wins waterskiing gold


PALEMBANG: Eight-year-old Aaliyah Yoong-Hanifah became the youngest champion in the history of the SEA Games when she won gold in the waterskiing tricks event on Thursday at the Jakabaring Lake.

Born on July 16, 2003, Aaliyah's nearest rival was aged 34.

The Yoong siblings are certainly enjoying themselves at the 26th SEA Games.

After two days of competition, Aaliyah's half-sister Philippa Yoong-Bayly has a gold in the women's slalom, while former Formula 1 driver Alex Yoong, her half-brother, finished second in the men's slalom.

The Yoong siblings are well-known in their native Malaysia and around the region, and they have been the centre of attention at the wakeboard and waterski competition here.

Despite his hectic schedule as head of Team Lotus' drivers' development programme, where he supervises the likes of Singapore's Daim Hishammuddin, Alex, who made 18 Grand Prix starts for Minardi between 2001 and 2002, agreed to make a competitive return to waterskiing since the 1997 SEA Games in Jakarta - the last time the sport featured at the biennial Games - to help boost the sport's profile in Malaysia, where football and badminton dominate.

"We persuaded him to come back because this could be the last time we get to compete together again, and this would really help boost the sport in Malaysia, which is why my father (national team manager Hanifah Yoong) and I managed to persuade Alex to come back," said Philippa, 33, a gold medallist (women's jumping) at the 1997 SEA Games, who is now married to businessman Andrew Bayly.

Alex, 35, a commentator with ESPN Star Sports, admitted on Thursday his return to competition after 14 years has been a "struggle".

"My mind can still do it, but I've lost my muscle memory," he said, with a laugh. "I've hardly trained or competed before this due to my hectic work schedule. It was probably a bad decision that I said 'yes' to my sister and father's persuasions to come back without really thinking if I could juggle my other commitments. 

"As you can see, I'm struggling and only trained consistently the past two weeks."

According to Philippa, it costs around RM35,000 (S$14,300) to fund a single wakeboarder/waterskiier's annual expense.

Unless more sponsors come in, it will be difficult to get it going in Malaysia, said Alex. Only about 1,000 people participate in the sport recreationally in the country.

There are fewer than 20 in the national side.

"Waterskiing is like golf or horse-riding in terms of costs, so that's a big hurdle for us. That's why it's great that the sport is at the SEA Games," said Philippa.

"It's also important that the younger riders compete regularly, because it's not enough for the likes of Aaliyah to only compete against me. They must go somewhere like the United States."

Alex hopes to continue competing, but he said: "My main focus is with Team Lotus and ESPN Star Sports. It pays the bills!"

Kuala Lumpur-based Philippa insisted there was no jealousy of her more famous sibling, but she quipped: "It can be a bit irritating when people follow him everywhere. But its all right, I often tease him that, if we can't get something done, just say you're Alex Yoong!



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