Waterskier Aaliyah Aims For The Podium At University World Championships

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- National waterskier Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah eyeing to start the 2025 season with a bang by winning a medal at the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) University World Championships beginning Wednesday in Auckland, New Zealand.

The 21-year-old, who took a five-month break from competitions to pursue her studies and sit for her second year exams in the university, is optimistic of claiming podium finishes at the scenic Orakei Basin located in downtown Auckland.

Aaliyah said she continued her training in the past months at her base where she is pursuing her studies in the Florida Southern College despite not competing in tournaments. 

“I have been training well despite the lack of competitions. I feel very charged up and raring to go in the competition participated by 78 athletes from 18 countries.

“My targets are podium results in jump, tricks and overall. If I can land a top of the podium spot in one of them it will be the icing on the cake,” she said in a statement issued by the Malaysian Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (MWWF).

The last world events that Aaliyah had won medals was during the 2022 World Games in Alabama, USA where she bagged a bronze in women’s tricks and the 2023 Under-21 World Championships in Chapala, Mexico where she clinched a bronze in women’s jump.

Her current personal best (PB) of 8,450 points in tricks is also an Asian record, while her PBs for jump and slalom events are 48.3m and 4.5/12/55, respectively. 

Meanwhile, national head coach Hanifah Yoong said 2025 will be a crucial year for his charges as the sport will be returning to the SEA Games in Thailand in December and the 2027 edition in Malaysia.

 “The MWWF had proposed a comprehensive training and competition programme to prepare the national athletes for both these SEA Games.

“We have only entered Aaliyah in the University Worlds, but will send more athletes to the Asian Championships that will be held in Bangkok in June as well as the World Championships that is scheduled in August in Recetto, Italy this year,” he said.

-- BERNAMA