KUALA LUMPUR − Teenage water skier Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah’s hopes of winning a first World Junior Championship in her last year as a junior is effectively over after coming down with Covid-19.
Aaliyah, who turned 18 on July 16, was due to compete in the delayed 2020 World Junior meet that is to be held in Florida, USA, from Aug 22-29.
Unfortunately, both Aaliyah and Hanifah Yoong − her father and coach − came down with Covid-19 earlier this week.
Both Aaliyah and Hanifah were tested positive (asymptomatic) and are recovering, observing home quarantine.
The Malaysian Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (MWWF), after consulting with the National Sports Council (NSC)’s director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail, have decided to pull her out from the World Junior meet.
Aaliyah was initially scheduled to depart on July 26 and would have arrived in Florida to have three weeks of training before the competition got underway.
Coming down with Covid-19, coupled with the lack of proper training because of the Movement Control Order (MCO) over the last few months, has put paid to Aaliyah’s title aspirations.
“It’s been a real bummer and I’m definitely devastated with the outcome,” said Aaliyah, who is a contender for either the tricks or the overall title.
“I don’t think there’s much I can do about this situation and even if I recovered after quarantine and went ahead, I would not have had time to prepare myself adequately.
“To be honest, I’ve not really been able to train properly since May (with the MCO situation) as there have been so many interruptions.
“In regard to competitions, I know there’s still a next time but it’s still a very devastating outcome for me as I was looking forward to the World Junior title as this is my last eligible year for the Under-17 title.
It is certainly a huge blow for Aaliyah, who has taken her tricks a level up, and has been pulling in close to 9,000 points in training despite the lack of competitions over the past two years.
Aaliyah will be overaged by the next world junior meet and is only eligible to compete in the next World Under-21 Championships.
“I will aim to compete at the next World Championship, which will be held next year, and my objective is to win two titles at the World Under-21 Championships in 2023,” added Aaliyah.
“It’s definitely a very disappointing outcome but she has to take it in stride,” said Hanifah. “It’s sad because she is in her prime to win and the world junior meet was always her objective. She’s also made big sacrifices, having stopped school last year to focus on the world junior meet.
“We are also sorry to the sponsors, both local and internationally, for being unable to compete at the world juniors. We are indeed very grateful for their continuous support and hope to make amends by doing well in upcoming competitions to give them mileage to repay their support,” added Hanifah.
For now, Aaliyah is looking forward to fully recovering and to begin preparations for the Asian Waterski and Wakeboard Championships, scheduled in September, which will be her next target.
She will also be focusing on her next major title – the World Under-21 Championships in 2023. − The Vibes, July 28, 2021
