Thursday July 2, 2009
Teen half-way point across English Channel
By CHOI TUCK WO
DOVER (Britain): Battling high waves and unusually strong currents, Zahra Masoumah Abdul Halim has crossed the half-way point of the English Channel in her attempt to become the first Malaysian girl to successfully swim across the channel.
As of 1am Malaysian time today (6pm here), the 17-year-old plucky teenager was still in high spirits despite being in the water for slightly over 12 hours.
Zahra battling the unfavourable tide and wind conditions which forced her to abandon her attempt to conquer the English Channel “She was hampered by the strong currents and high waves,” said Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtaruddin, chairman of the Seven Continents Club Extreme Exploration who is among a group of Malaysians following her in a boat.
He said they had earlier given morale-boosting pep talks while feeding her with energy drinks and biscuits while she struggled with the rough conditions.
Zahra:Still in high spirits despite being in the water for over 12 hours. She had started her swim across the channel at 1pm Malaysian time yesterday (6am here) at Shakespeare Beach.
An independent observer from the English Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation was present as she entered the water to make the epic swim from the beach to Calais in France.
Others on the boat include her father, Abdul Halim Manaf and coach Arof Omar.
During a telephone interview a few hours before the swim, Zahra hoped all Malaysians would pray for her success to cross the channel.
“I’m both excited and nervous but I believe I can do it,” she said.
If Zahra manages to swim non-stop across the 33.6km wide channel, she would be the third Malaysian to do so after Datuk Abdul Malik Mydin and Dr Lennard Lee in 2003 and 2004 respectively.
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