Charizanne Napa took the early lead in the 2021 Mussanah Open Championship, Saturday at the Millennium Resort in Oman.
Napa, who won silver in the windsurfing event of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, went unperturbed in the two races held in the day finishing first in both races, taking 2.0 race points, 3.0 points ahead of Singapore’s Amanda Ng Ling Kai and India’s Ishwariya Ganesh.
The tournament serves as the final Olympic qualification tournament for both Asia and Africa in men’s 49er, women’s 49erFX, women’s laser radial, men’s laser STD, and men’s and women’s RS:X. The Philippines entered three male and one female windsurfer in the RS:X class.
On the other hand, Yancy Kaibigan and Geylord Coveta placed themselves in prime positions as well.
Kaibigan, the 2019 SEA Games champion in Men’s RS X, bounced back from a slow start and took the win in the second race to finish in third after the day. He finished sixth in the first race before taking 1.0 points in the following one for a total of 7.0.
Two-time world champion Coveta was not far behind in fourth with a net of 9.0 points off his 5th place and 4th place finishes in the first and second races, respectively.
Renz Angelo Amboy rounds up the Philippine contingent at eighth place for the day with 15.0 race points.
Race one winner Natthapong Phonoppharat of Thailand currently led the men’s RS:X regatta with 4.0 race points, while compatriot Navin Singsart is at second with 4.0 as well.
Only the winner of the races will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.
Team Pilipinas will look to continue its run as the race continues on Sunday at 12:55 p.m. (4:55 p.m. Manila time).
