Khairulnizam to lead Malaysian Monsoon at SSL Gold Cup
The four-time Olympian is targeting a place beyond the quarter-finals while seeking to help develop younger Malaysian sailors.
Malaysian sailor Khairulnizam Afendy will captain Malaysian Monsoon at the 2026 SSL Gold Cup in Rio de Janeiro, with the team aiming to advance beyond the quarter-finals. The competition runs from November 19 to December 13 in Guanabara Bay.
The 33-year-old said his priorities now extended beyond his own results. He wants to pass on knowledge gained through four Olympic appearances to help younger sailors develop, and sees the team competition as a chance to contribute to Malaysian sailing.
Khairulnizam said captaining the crew would require a different approach from racing in ILCA 7, where he makes decisions independently. His focus would be on communication, trust and ensuring crew members understand one another’s strengths.
Malaysian Monsoon placed in the top ten at the 2023 edition in Gran Canaria. Khairulnizam said that campaign had improved the team’s understanding of the opposition, although he expected a demanding contest in Rio. The 2026 event will bring together 66 nations using identical SSL47 yachts.
His Olympic appearances span London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. He also earned Asian Games silver medals at Incheon 2014 and Jakarta-Palembang 2018, followed by bronze at Aichi-Nagoya. He said a team podium finish could encourage younger Malaysians to pursue international sailing success.
