The Hong Kong 49er sailing duo of Akira Sakai and Russell Aylsworth have clinched a Paris Olympics qualification for Hong Kong on 26th April 2024 at the 55th French Olympic Week Last Chance Regatta. They achieved an overall 7th-place finish in the Regatta and secured the final spot for Paris 2024. This outstanding performance will see Akira Sakai and Russell Aylsworth join Nicholas Halliday, at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The Hong Kong sailing team has now qualified for both the ILCA7 single-handed dinghy (Nicholas Halliday) and the 49er (Akira Sakai and Russell Aylsworth) sailing classes at the largest and most prestigious sporting event in the world.
Akira Sakai and Russell Aylsworth already represented Hong Kong, China in the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, where they won the bronze medal in the 49er sailing event.
The Sailing Federation of Hong Kong, China is extremely proud that our sailors have once again qualified for the Olympic Games. The have worked incredibly hard to get these results and we look forward to seeing them race in Paris this summer. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Head Coach Harris Tsolis and Coach Rory Godman for their invaluable guidance, as well as to the Hong Kong Sports Institute for providing the much-needed sail training opportunities. Additionally, we extend our appreciation to the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China for their unwavering support. The persistence and hard work of Akira Sakai and Russell Aylsworth deserve special recognition, as they have brought immense pride to our entire sailing community.
Qualifying for the Olympics is just the beginning, and we eagerly anticipate the remarkable performances of Akira Sakai and Russell Aylsworth on the grand stage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, once they are confirmed by the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China.
Photos credit: FFVoile – SOF / Sailing Energy
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