YOG 2010: Martin closing in on windsurfing medal in Singapore

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat, in Singapore

 KIERAN Martin insists he is keeping things on an even keel - even if he has one hand on a medal at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

ON FORM: Kieran Martin is closing in on a windsurfing medal in Singapore but he is refusing to get ahead of himself (Singapore Press Holdings)

The 15-year-old windsurfer has been in and around the top of the leaderboard from the word go and after the two third place finishes in the seventh and eighth races of the competition, he currently lies third.

His combined points total of 31 puts him 14 points behind leader Mayan Rafic of Israel, but that lead is narrowed to seven in terms of net totals - where the worst race outing score is discarded.

Indeed such has Martin's consistency been that he has only finished outside the top three on two occasions and is just a point behind Hong Kong's Chun Leung Michael Cheng, once the net deductions have been made.

At this stage of the competition, there should be seven races remaining prior to the medal race but such has the adverse weather been in the Lion City that tomorrow will see three races before the fleet go straight to Wednesday's final.

And while Martin would have to suffer a drastic downturn in form and fortune in the Far East, he is refusing to hang a medal around his neck just yet.

"Getting two third places was great and everything is going really well at the minute so I am pleased," said Martin.  

"I really want to just stay consistent and keep getting some good results and I am doing that well which is great.

"But I am not daring to think about getting a medal just yet. There is still a long way to go and so I need to just concentrate on every race and make sure I stay consistent.

"The people who are up there with me in the top three are people I would expect to be there because they did well at the World Junior Championships.  

"So I know they are very good and that I need to make sure I keep performing well if I am going to have a chance for a medal.

To get a medal would be amazing though.  I wouldn't care which colour really just to get one would be great.  

"I am feeling confident that I can stay in the top three because it has gone well so far."

Meanwhile, female counterpart Jade Rogers' indifferent form continued as she chalked up finishes of ninth and 11th to sit 11th overall.

  Lloyds TSB, proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey to the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games. Visit LloydsTSB.com/London2012