Adam does it again
Youngster breaks men’s national tricks record for second time
PETALING JAYA: Adam Yoong Hanifah has done it again.
The nine- year- old water skier delivered another top-notch performance to shatter the men’s national tricks record for the second time in two weeks.
Adam, the youngest of three siblings, compiled 4,040 points en route to win the boys’ Under-13 event at the Sunset Lakes Cup Masters LCQ in Florida, the United States, on Sunday.
At the Florida Inboards Open last week, Adam amassed a 3,920 total to break his older half brother Alex Yoong’s 24-year-old national record of 3,830 points.
Eleven-year-old Aiden Yoong Hanifah once again lagged behind his brother as he only managed 3,720 points to finish second.
“It’s unheard of in Asia for a nine-year-old to break the 4,000- point barrier in tricks,” enthused Hanifah Yoong, the head coach of the Malaysian Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (MWWF).
In slalom, 19-year-old Syahir Nasir posted a score of 5 buoys/13m rope/58kph to finish fourth in the boys’ Under-21 category.
In the girls’ tricks, 13-year-old Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah scored 6,600 points to finish third in the Under-17 category.
World champion Anna Gay of the United States emerged champion with a 10,880 total followed by Canada’s Paige Rini on 7,320.
Aaliyah will next compete in the US Masters at the Callaway Gardens, Atlanta, from May 26-28.
The rest – Adam, Aiden and Syahir – will return home today after a six-week training cum competition in the US.