Ali Young faces world’s best in Tokyo countdown

Wolverhampton’s Young, 32, will be among 17 athletes flying the flag for Great Britain at the official Tokyo 2020 test event, which begins on Saturday (August 17).

The regatta, dubbed Ready Steady Tokyo and held on the waters of Tokyo 2020 sailing venue Enoshima, is a dress rehearsal for the Games proper with nations selecting just one entry in each of the ten Olympic sailing classes.

Crucially, Ready Steady Tokyo is a key performance indicator in the run-up to Tokyo 2020, where Britain will aim to top the sailing medal table for the fifth time in six Games.

Young was chosen as part of an ongoing selection process to ensure the nation’s best chances of winning medals at Tokyo 2020.

She will represent Britain in the singlehanded Laser Radial class, in which she competed for Team GB at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Young will begin the regatta boosted by winning bronze at the Laser Radial World Championships in Japan last month.

“It’s always important to race at the venue that’s going to be used for the next Olympics,” said Young.

“It’s a great opportunity to learn about the venue, but also you’ve got all the best sailors in the world to compete against. You really get to test yourself in the Olympic conditions and against great sailors.”

Selection for the test event, made by the RYA’s Olympic Selection Committee, is a key step in the RYA’s ongoing process to nominate athletes to go to Tokyo 2020 as part of Team GB.

It does not guarantee that these athletes will be picked to represent Team GB at Tokyo 2020.

“All of the chosen athletes have demonstrated medal-winning potential so far this year,” said Mark Robinson, Olympic Performance Manager at the RYA.

“We are blessed with strength and depth in many classes as the results in the recent class European Championships have proven. I’m delighted with the progress of the team and am looking forward to watching them perform in the Olympic waters off Enoshima.”