PETALING JAYA: Sailor Khairulnizam Afendy is confident of springing a surprise when he makes his fourth Olympic appearance at Paris 2024 in July.
Khairulnizam, who turned 31 today, believes he is in good shape following his performances in several races this year.
"I am in good shape and ranked 18th in the world. No other Malaysian sailor has made it to the top 20. Insya-Allah, I will do my best and spring a surprise at the Olympics.
"I have finished first, third and fourth in several races this year," he said during a gathering with chef de mission (CDM) Datuk Hamidin Amin and other athletes here today.
Khairulnizam will set up camp at the Marseille Marina, the official Paris Olympic venue, from June 1 to June 19 to acclimatise to the conditions before competing in the World Cup in Kiel, Germany, on June 20-26.
After the World Cup, he will return home for 10 days before flying off to Marseille again to undergo training until the July 26-Aug 11 Paris Olympics.
Khairulnizam, the winner of two Asian Games silver medals, qualified for the Olympics on merit after finishing third in the single-handed dinghy ILCA 7 class at the Last Chance Regatta in Hyeres, France, last month. -- BERNAMA