WELLINGTON: The 2022 Hansa Class Asia Pacific Championships and Para World Sailing Championships will be held at Hiroshima Kannon Marina from October 20 to 23.
The move is significant in Asia because it is the first time these championships for able-bodied and para sailors would be conducted at the same time, as per reports.
Fumio Kishida, Japan's Prime Minister, offered a greetings message to the combined events, saying: "We are glad to announce that the Hansa Class Asia Pacific Championship and the Hansa Class 2022 Para World Sailing Championship will be hosted in Hiroshima in October.
"I'm hopeful that this competition will lead to a society that values variety." World Sailing CEO David Graham sees this as a cornerstone for para sailing's growth in the year that the world sailing governing body pushes for para sailing's return in the Paralympic Games.
"The year 2022 is critical for Para Sailing, since we aim to reintroduce our sport at the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. "Our para sailing competitors are among the world's best sailors, representing one of the widest ranges of physical and sensory abilities ever seen in global sport and encouraging the next generation," said the organisation. Xu Jingkun, a Paralympic sailor from China, is looking forward to the activities taking place near his home nation.
"I am overjoyed that the Hansa Class 2022 Para World Sailing Championship will be held in Hiroshima," he said. "I hope that more people will get interested in sailing and participate in it, so that sailing can become 'wings,' allowing people to ride the wind and waves."
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