2008 World Laser Championships

Korea first Olympic qualifier at Laser World's - 11 February 2008

Jeemin Ha made a name for himself overnight as his point score on reaching shore following three races at the Laser World Championship last evening guaranteed him a place in the 53 boat Gold fleet Finals and hence Beijing Olympic Games qualification for Korea.

Ha found out this morning but was oddly subdued. "Yes, it is good for me and Korea. It is special," he said when questioned, but was not running around telling everyone as most others would.

The only non-qualified nation sailor to make the Gold fleet, Ha said he felt proud to be in the Gold fleet, from where the Championship winner would come, and to qualify Korea for the Games, but now wanted to concentrate on the rest of the Championship, due to finish on Wednesday afternoon. Only nine places for the Beijing Games in the Laser class remain.

Jeemin Ha shows the style that help qualify Korea for the Beijing Games

(Photo Courtesy: Andrea Francolini)

Others in the running to qualify their nations at the Worlds being held off Terrigal in Australia are in the Silver Fleet and include; Andreas Geritzer (AUT), Raul Aguayo (DOM), Juan Maegli (GUA), Gyorgy Fazakas and Zsombor Berecz (HUN), Anthony Craig and Ryan Seaton (IRL), Hisaki Nagai, Yoichi Iijima and Yoshihiro Okinishi (JPN), Kevin Lim (MAS), Igor Lisovenko and Maxim Semerkhanov (RUS), Leong Seng Koh (SIN) and Christoph Bottoni and Max Bulley (SUI).

This is the final opportunity for nations to qualify for Beijing. The best nine unqualified nations at the end of the Laser World's will gain the final places.

Those who missed out hid their disappointment well as they headed out of the boat park onto the race track this morning. "Today is another day. I will go and try my best," smiled Colombian sailor Andrey Quintero who is in Australia without a coach or support..

Further information:
Di Pearson,
2008 Laser Worlds media manager

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