Sailor Ryan Lo takes home Singapore’s second gold medal at Asian Games

NINGBO, China: Back in the country where his Asian Games journey began, third time proved the charm for sailor Ryan Lo as he won Singapore’s second gold medal at the Asian Games on Wednesday (Sep 27).

He clinched victory in the ILCA7 event after the medal race on Wednesday was cancelled due to poor weather conditions. Based on the ranking from the opening series, Lo finished top in the event.

South Korea's Ha Jeemin took silver and India's Vishnu Saravanan the bronze.

“It was a bit nerve-racking having to wait this long for a race. But just glad to be able to finish this event, win it and qualify the country (for the Olympics),” said Lo.

“I cannot complain and I’m just really satisfied.”

The gold medal means Lo has secured a quota spot for Singapore at next year’s Paris Olympics. A quota place guarantees that an athlete from Singapore will be competing in the event at the Olympics.

Lo finished with a bronze medal in the same event at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

"I came into this Games ... more confident in my ability, in my preparation," he said.

"Five years older, definitely much more maturity, treated this Games as professional as I could. (I) just tried to treat it as any other competition, reduce the pressure and I think I can be quite pleased with how I dealt with it this past week."

Lo also has an Optimist bronze from 2010 to his name, which he won in China.

“To come back here again, back to China, and win a gold definitely means a lot. It’s very special for me,” said Lo.

The Singaporean also paid tribute to his family.

“(It’s been) about 19 years that I’ve been sailing. My family has always been there from the beginning and I could not have been where I'm at without all their support and guidance,” said Lo.

Lo’s gold