Youth Olympic Games Qualifiers, Asia and Oceania

ThailandYOG 2018 Results

Top three boys Asia division (after 20 elimination rounds, four discards)

1. Christian Tio (PHI) 26pts

2. Haoran Zhang (CHN) 34pts

3. Sarun Rupchom (THA) 41pts

 

Top three girls Asia division (after 20 races, four discards)

1. Jingle Chen (CHN) 16pts

2. Kewen Li (CHN) 32pts

3. Nichanan Rodthong (THA) 43.3pts                                   

 

Top three boys Oceania division (after 20 races, four discards)

1. Mani Bisschops (AUS) 16pts

2. Aaron Kenny (AUS) 31pts

3. William Barlette (AUS) 54pts

 

Top girl Oceania division (after 20 races, four discards)

1. Pia Kitchin Gordon (NZL) 53pts

With just four YOG spots available—two for boys and two for girls each from Asia and Oceania—the competition was bound to be intense. Another eight of a total of 24 spots available had already be allocated in qualifiers in Cabarete, Dominican Republic, and Dakhla, Morocco.

But it was the Pranburi qualifier’s Asia boys’ division that threw up the most enthralling battles, with local favourite, Sarun “Nai” Rupchom (THA), leading the standings and looking tough to beat over the opening days.

In the last two days, though, as the breezes moderated from the perfect 20kts of the opening days, Rupchom’s challenge went awry as the pressure seemed to get to him and he suffered several disqualifications for crossing the startline early.

The mistakes cost the Thai rider dearly and he finished third overall, overhauled by China’s Haoran Zhang, another early leader. Zhang’s gritty performances kept him in the hunt and he took the second step on the podium.

Both Rupchom and Zhang will be looking to set matters right when they go to the IKA TT:R Slalom Youth Worlds in Hainan, China, in May, when the last eight YOG places will be on offer for those who top the standings.  

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