Israel's Zubari claims windsurfing gold in China

Zubari nevertheless dominated the competition, clinching first place with a day to spare.

By ALLON SINAI
SHAHAR ZUBARI windsurfer 370 (photo credit: Gal Fridman/Team Sup)
SHAHAR ZUBARI windsurfer 370
(photo credit: Gal Fridman/Team Sup)
The race for a place in the Israel delegation at the 2016 Rio Olympics is stillalmost two years away, but windsurfer Shahar Zubari was still no less delightedwith his win over the weekend at the World Cup event in Qingdao, China.
Nearly none of the world’s top surfers took part in the event, with only threeof the contestants not hailing from China or Hong Kong. But Zubari nevertheless dominated the competition, clinching first place with a day to spare.
“I always compete with the same attitude no matter where I am,” said Zubari. “I always try to do my best no matter where I’m positioned.”
Zubari had fond memories from Qingdao even prior to the past weekend, claiming an Olympic bronze medal at the site in the 2008 Beijing Games.
The second of the season’s five World Cup events will take place in Melbournein December where many more of the world’s premier surfers are expected totake part.
In other Israeli news, Ma’ayan Davidovich won a bronze medal in the women’s windsurfing competition in Qingdao despite only managing a disappointing ninth place finish in the medal race.