Despite a sixth place finish in the medal race, China's Fang Zhennan salvaged national pride with a gold medal in the men's RS:X event at the Qingdao International Regatta.

 

Medals and standings for eleven events in nine classes were confirmed on Wednesday.

 

In the medal race of the men's RS:X, Chan King Yin of Hong Kong bagged himself the bronze medal. One point ahead of Chan was China's He Feng who was second overall. Teammate Wang Aichen finished fourth.

 

Fang was extremely happy when he learned that he had won the sole gold medal for China.

 

"I am very excited," Fang said. "Light wind is suitable for me, while foreign sailors are not quite used to it.

 

 

"After the test event, I am more used to the water and weather conditions here. But I still need to improve my ability in strong winds.

 

"I feel tired and really need to rest. And then I will prepare for the World Championships in Italy."

 

Olympic Champion Faustine Merret of France had an impeccable performance in the women's RS:X as she led all the way to the finish.

 

 

China's Sun Limei took the silver, and Yin Jian, the Athens Olympics runner-up, stood third in the overall standings, edging Poland's Malgorzata Bialecka into fourth place.

 

Merret said: "Before I came here, my goal was just to feel these conditions, observe my competitors and prepare for the 2008 Olympics. I learned a lot this week and it is good to race against many other good sailors to stay competitive."

 

"We had a fierce competition and we had a good time. It was vital that our races were of very good quality."

 

She said of the Chinese sailors: "They were really good sailors so we pushed each other to become better. In light winds, we sailed well, and in stronger winds, although I did not sail as well, I had plenty of fun!"

 

 

She goes back to France for two weeks during which time she'll be studying in Paris. "Then I'm going to the World Championships. In 2007 and 2008, hopefully I will have the potency to come back and compete. It is good to sail in this venue," she added.

 

Sun regretted some of the mistakes she made in the medal race. "My form is unstable and I am not mentally strong," the national champion said.

 

Yin said that, like her, many Chinese sailors need to improve their abilities in strong winds.

 

Although Olympics champion Ben Ainslie of Great Britain already secured a gold medal in the Finn event prior to the medal race, which meant that he really only needed to make it through to the final round, he had the wind in his sails and pulled off a perfect finish.

 

Emilios Papathanasiou of Greece came in fifth in the medal race to take the silver. World Champion Jonas Hoegh-Christensen of Denmark finished third in the race and in the overall standings.

 

Ainslie said: "I won the medal race, the last race of this week. Conditions were good. We had good breeze and good waves. I think all the sailors enjoyed it and I think it is great to finish this regatta with such a great race. I am very happy with the results and it was a good experience to familiarize myself with the venue for the 2008 Olympics."

 

In the 49er class, world champions Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks of Great Britain were first, while Emmanuel Dyen and Yann Rocherieux of France snatched the silver medal. The bronze went to Rodion Luka and Georgiy Leonchuk of the Ukraine.

 

"We got bronze in Athens and were disappointed. But I am looking forward to the Beijing Olympics and am very keen to try to qualify. Winning this test event was perfect," Draper said.

 

 

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2006)