Already earning reputations in the world of jet skiing, Cambodia’s Ou Moeut Saly and Mustan Min are tipped as medal contenders in the Asian Games at Ancol Beach near Jakarta, where the pair will compete in all four singles and doubles events starting on Wednesday.
“It is amazing how these two very well accomplished jet ski riders have kept themselves out of the public eye here in Jakarta and have been training so hard with an excellent back-up team of some of the best in the world, under a well renowned coach like Chris Talakouras of Australia,” noted a team official from Thailand.
The two Cambodians have often based themselves in Thailand while moving around continents, and have achieved astounding success in high-profile events like the Thai championships and King’s Cup, besides notable highs in the Australian and World Championships.
“They are among the best. I am more than confident that they will do well in some categories. They have been working hard for this for a while and they have just come back from a world tour. I expect them to win at least two medals, and possibly three,’’ the Australian coach said.
“They will be taking part in all the four events. In two of which they will be together,” Talakouras told the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia’s Olympic Channel on Monday in the company of Saly and Min.
“I am happy that they are now at the top of the game. I am confident that they will be on the podium in at least two events,” Talakouras predicted.
The light-framed 26-year-old Saly, at 55kg and 5ft 5in, is a UIM Pro GP1 ski rider who has matched his skills with some jet ski legends, including five-time professional world champion Kevin Reiterer, who according to pundits is the water sport’s equivalent of Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton.
‘Really excited’
Saly was among world class PWC racers in the Australian Lake Macquarie event in the first weekend of June this year The 23-year-old Min has competed and won against the game’s elite in various international events.
As Talakouras pointed out, the two make a formidable team, and the categories they are in – like the endurance runabout open, runabout 1100 stock, runabout limited and ski modified – should suit their strengths.
Jet ski is making its Asian Games debut in this year’s edition, and Cambodia’s top administrators are eagerly awaiting some solid performances from the pair and a few medals jetting their way back from Ancol Beach at the end of the three-day competition.
“We are really excited that two of our jet ski prospects have such big reputations, and we hope they can come away with a couple of gold medals,” said NOCC secretary-general Vath Chamroeun, who is expecting a huge Cambodian support team lining Ancol beach when the two rev up in their bid for medals.
