Cheng completes Singapore Sailing’s largest Olympic contingent

SINGAPORE — National sailor Colin Cheng (picture) will join eight of his Singapore Sailing team-mates at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, as the national sailing body concluded its internal selection trials for the Olympic spots on Wednesday.

Cheng — the top Asian sailor in the men’s laser standard class at his first Olympics in 2012 (15th out of 49th) — booked his ticket to Rio ahead of Singaporean Scott Glen Sydney, as the Singapore Sailing Federation gets ready to send its largest contingent ever to the Olympic Games in August.

The 2008 Games saw six Singapore sailors compete in Beijing. The 2012 Games in London saw only two.

Out of 21 athletes from Singapore who have qualified for the Games, national sailors make up the bulk.

Cheng, who has been based in Australia since 2010 where he trains and studies at the University of New South Wales, could also be the first Singaporean sailor to achieve a top-10 finish at the Olympic Games this year, Singapore Sailing Federation president Ben Tan told TODAY in an interview early this year.

The 26-year-old sealed the qualification spot for Singapore at the Rio Olympics in his first trial, and subsequently finished 13th in the Trofeo Princesa Sofia regatta in Spain (March 26-April 2) and 26th out of a 112-sailor fleet in the recently concluded World Championships in Mexico (May 10-18). Sydney, 25, placed 67th and 49th respectively.

“I am happy and humbled to represent Singapore at the Games a second time. I have sacrificed two-and-a-half years of my studies, time with family and friends on this campaign,” said Cheng. “Rio will not be an easy venue to race in. However, my 2012 Games experience gives me confidence that I am competitive against the very best, and gives me a good idea as to the level of consistency required to win a medal.”

Brett Beyer, Cheng’s coach, said Cheng’s sailing technique has “come a long way” and he is getting “very competitive in the fresher winds he previously struggled in”. Beyer added: “At this regatta, there was scope for Colin to be more attacking and this is what will be required in Rio. So this will be our focus from now till the Games.” ADELENE WONG

Team Singapore athletes who have qualified for the 2016 Olympics to date:

Sailing: Colin Cheng (men’s laser standard), Elizabeth Yin (women’s laser radial), Jovina Choo & Amanda Ng (women’s 470), Justin Liu & Denise Lim (mixed Nacra 17), Griselda Khng & Sara Tan (women’s 49er FX), Leonard Ong (men’s RS:X)

Swimming: Joseph Schooling, Quah Zheng Wen

Shooters: Jasmine Ser, Teo Shun Xie

Table tennis: Feng Tianwei, Chen Feng

Athletics: Neo Jie Shi

Rowing: Saiyidah Aisyah