Jeremy moved by Agong's pep talk

12:40 PM Wed 1 Dec 2010 GMT
Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Almarhum Al-Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billal Shah, opened the Monsoon Cup 2010 following a spectacular ceremony at the Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort and Spa Exhibition Hall today.

Groups from local primary and secondary schools as well as 70 specialist dancers and musicians from local clubs performed ‘The 1 Malaysia Show’ – a performance which combined all the cultural traditions from across the country including Chinese, Indian and Malay, as well as traditions specific to Kuala Terengganu.

Tuanku Mirzan Zainal Abidin (left) and Jeremy Koo (second left) and Terengganu MB YAB Dato Seri Ahmad Said during the opening ceremony - Subzero Images -Monsoon Cup_© Click Here to view large photo

His Majesty was accompanied by the queen, Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, Terengganu Menteri Besar YAB Dato Ahmad Said, Youth and Sports Minister YAB Dato Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Monsoon Cup Chairman Tan Sri Sabbaruddin Chik, Monsoon Cup Director Dato Wan Hisham Wan Salleh and several other high ranking government officials and after the performances, declared the 2010 Monsoon Open.

The skippers of the 12 teams – Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team, Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN, Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar, Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team, Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra, Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing, Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team, Phil Robertson (NZL) Waka Racing, Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing and Jeremy Koo (MAS) Koo Racing Team-Evernew – were later introduced to His Majesty.

Jeremy, who is the sole Malaysian qualifier, said he was delighted to not only shake His Majesty’s hands, but was honoured Tuanku Mirzan encouraged him to go all out in the Monsoon Cup.

“His Majesty took the trouble to speak to each skipper but I was extremely honoured that he spent a little longer with me. He asked me about my career and gave me words of encouragement,” said Jeremy, who is competing in his third Monsoon Cup, but the first as a skipper after crewing for his sister Tiffany’s team in 2006 and 2007.

“Tuanku has given me an added incentive to go all out to create a shock or two in the Monsoon Cup. I know we start as the underdogs but I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

The Monsoon Cup is the ninth and last stage of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) and after eight rounds, five skippers – Richard (105 Points), Minoprio (90 Points), Ainslie (88 Points), Mirsky (76 Points) and Williams (72 Points) – all have a mathematical chance of being crowned ISAF Match Racing World Champion.


by Monsoon Cup 2010 Media