Two Golds
For Cyprus In Sailing
LIMASSOL, 5 June 2009
- Strong
winds brought a premature end to the XIII Games of the
Small States of Europe sailing event with hosts Cyprus
emerging the eventual big winner on Friday.
The high winds in Limassol prompted the
Games Committee to bring an early conclusion to six
races which had seen Cyprus leading the pack in two of
them.
The committee's decision was received
with protests by Monaco who called for an additional
race, something which was not sustained. The previous
races had taken place on Wednesday and Thursday and were
meant to finish on Friday but the committee was forced
to finalise the concurrent standings of the sailing
athletes based on their position in the race.
The final standings saw Cyprus secure two
gold medals through Pavlos Kontides in the laser event
and Natasa Christodoulou in the laser radial race.
Elsewhere, Malta came first in the
optimist event through Thomas Zammit Tabona and Monaco’s
Marina Prat also won the gold in the women’s event. The
most medals were won by Monaco and Cyprus with five
each.
Cyprus' Mary Solomonidou won the bronze
medal in the optimist event at just age 13.
