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SINGAPORE: Anya Zahedi will make her Southeast Asian (SEA) Games debut in Thailand next week \u2013 but she stands out even among a sea of top athletes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 12-year-old Optimist class sailor is among the youngest athletes in Singapore’s record 930-strong contingent. \u00a0<\/p>\n
“I feel nervous, but excited at the same time. Because it’s my first (time) representing Singapore at a major Games,\u201d the Primary 6 student told CNA.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI really want to do well, but I know that the competition is really tough.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Anya picked up sailing as a co-curricular activity (CCA) in Primary 1 at Tao Nan School, inspired by her older sister Nia Zahedi, who is also a national sailor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After joining Singapore Sailing Federation\u2019s \u2013 the national governing body for the sport \u2013 weekend activities, she progressed quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She earned a place in the Gold Fleet \u2013 the top tier of young Optimist sailors, and later advanced through the developmental clinic.<\/p>\n
She secured a spot on the national training squad and by the age of 10, became a member of the national team.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the lead-up to the SEA Games, Anya trained five times a week at the National Sailing Centre, working on her technique and conditioning as well as attending team-racing sessions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite her young age, she has competed in multiple local and overseas regattas, including events in Thailand, Turkiye and Greece.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In October, she placed fourth out of 175 competitors at the Optimist Asian & Oceanian Championship in Oman. She was the top female as well as top youngest sailor in the fleet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fellow Team Singapore sailor Ethan Chia, 15, who is also bound for the SEA Games, finished second at the same event. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n