Search DubaiPRNetwork.com

Dubai and UAE

Thursday, November 21, 2019/ Editor

Home >> Events, Entertainment and Exhibitions

Italian Twins Double Up on Gold Medal  Trail in Abu Dhabi

Italian Twins Double Up on Gold Medal Trail in Abu Dhabi

Home >> Events, Entertainment and Exhibitions

Virag sisters soar through qualifiers, but Aussie Kell sets the Open Women standard at IWWF World Wakeboard Championships 

 

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 21 November, 2019:    Italian twins Alice and Chiara Virag are largely inseparable, and it was hard to tell them apart again as they produced stunning double performance at the 2019 IWWF World Wakeboard Championships in Abu Dhabi today.

The 19-year-old sisters from Milan were in sparkling form as they both topped their qualifying heats to book places in Friday’s Open Women semi-finals at the Eastern Mangroves Promenade.

If either of the twins are to go home with a gold medal, however, it may require a best ever performance from one of them, judging from the display of Australian Zahra Kell who recorded a top score of 72.78 in the qualifying heats.

Also going through was Sanne Meijer from the Netherlands, gold medal winner at last month’s first ever ANOC Worlds Beach Games, who says it will be much tougher to win in Abu Dhabi and had a message for young UAE wakeboarding enthusiasts.

“Winning gold is really important for an athlete but I don’t know if winning here is possible,” she said. “It’s going to be very tough, and my win last month means I have already achieved my goal for this year. But I’m definitely not here to be last.”

“Getting to the top in this sport is not easy, and the most important thing is to have fun. That’s how I got better, by having fun with my friends. One friend would do something and I’d try it, but it didn’t work, so I would keep on trying and we’d all keep supporting each other. That’s the way you learn.”
While warm sunshine gave way to grey skies and rain on the second day, the change in weather made no difference to the spirit and performance of the 150 athletes assembled in Abu Dhabi from 31 countries.

Australian Mackenzie McCarthy and Italy’s Julia Molinari topped the Junior Women qualifying heats while Swiss Deborah Lutolf and Russian Anna Maria Kushkovskaya also moved through to Saturday’s final.

German Sigrid Bachler dominated the Over 40 Veteran Women qualifiers to progress along with American Cathy Williams, Hong Kong’s Kit Sum Ruby Lee and Man Yee Fiona Chan, New Zealander Charlotte Broadbent and Japan’s Naoko Nishikado.

The Brazillian flair of Mariane Nep gave her top spot in the Over 30 Master Women qualifiers ahead of Japan’s Mayiu Oyama, Britain’s Sarah Partridge, Hong Kong’s Zee Zee Hester Shiu and Nep’s compatriot, Ailine Wafae.

Reaching Friday’s Under 14 Girls final were Australian Sienna Curren, Mexico’s Fernanda Gomez Crespo, Japan’s Mio Nakagawa and China’s Xiang Wang.

Hosted by Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports club, the five-day 2019 IWWF World Wakeboard Championships reaches a climax on Saturday.

 

Share


Previous in Events and Entertainment

Next in Events and Entertainment


Home >> Events, Entertainment and Exhibitions Section

Latest Press Release

“Dubai Customs” celebrates the graduation of the first cohort of participants in the security refres ...

G-SHOCK's Summer Style Statement: Metal-Cased Watches That Define the Season

Hatta Hosts Summer Sports Festival to Attract Over 6,000 Participants as Part of 'Our Summer is Spor ...

flydubai breaks ground on new Aircraft Maintenance Centre at Dubai South

The most common mistakes in the care and use of your car's tyres

UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Tadej Pogačar aim for fourth Tour de France title

Dubai Airports hosts guided travel simulation experience for children with autism spectrum disorder ...

Vacheron constantin presents les cabinotiers Temporis duo grand complication openface

Emirates arrives in Shenzhen

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and Électricité de France Forge Sustainability-Focused Partnershi ...

Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development's Abu Dhabi SME Champions Program facilitates 650+ deals wor ...

Gargash Group Accelerates Sustainability Agenda with New Sustainability Linked Facility from Mashreq

Hamdan Smart University Launches College of Sustainability and Green Economy

Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund Launches a New Chapter to Strengthen Government Innovation

RTA Completes Traffic Upgrades to Improve Connectivity Between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road v ...

Dubai Municipality Announces Registration Opening for the Second Edition of the Food Systems Excelle ...

Emirates Aviation University marks 35 years of supporting the local and global aviation ecosystem

Emirates layers on retrofitted aircraft with latest product, including Premium Economy to more citie ...

Music, Maps, and Stories at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library in July

New SHEGLAM Daydreamer Mini Palette Turns Pocket-Sized into Power Pigment