Sailing: XIV Memorial Alejandra Fernández - Trofeo Berberecho competition |24 May 2021

Rodney Govinden in action

Govinden gets six first places for overall win

Local Laser sailor Rodney Govinden’s preparation for the forthcoming Olympic Games is gaining momentum and he won the XIV Memorial Alejandra Fernández - Trofeo Berberecho competition held in Spain recently.

Govinden claimed six first places in the seven races to finish with six points for first place overall.

It was only in the fifth race that he was ranked fourth and that particular race was won by Pablo Reboreda Dia. Since the fourth place finish was Govinden’s worst finish, it was discarded, leaving him with six points.

Second overall was Javier Isidro Tejedor with 12 points and third was Miguel Reboreda Tourón with 28 points.

Olympian Govinden has been training with Viana Sailing in Viana do Castelo, Portugal since April 24, 2021.

Govinden is the only Seychellois athlete who has so far qualified for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad and he achieved the feat after clinching the Laser gold medal at the 2019 African Championship RSX and Laser.

This year’s Games will be his second after competing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016 where he finished 45th overall.

These Games were scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan from July 24 to August 9 last year but because of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, they were postponed to this year, from July 23 to August 8 and will not allow international spectators.

Despite being rescheduled for 2021, the event retains the Tokyo 2020 name for marketing and branding purposes. This is the first time that the Olympic Games have been postponed and rescheduled, rather than cancelled.

Gerard Govinden