The world runner-up in the 470 Sailboats, Noa Lasri, is returning from retirement to compete in the Princess Cup in Palma, next month. Lasri will temporarily join Nitai Hasson, in order to replace his partner, Saar Tamir, who was injured last week.
Lasri, who previously sailed with Tal Sadeh, announced her retirement from competitive sports last year. She recently began studying for a degree in geology at Ben Gurion University. Due to the injury of Gil Cohen several months ago and Tamir, last week, the national coach, Gidi Kliger, was left without cruises and there was a fear that the 470 team would not be represented in the prestigious competition. Nitai Hasson turned to Lasri and asked for her help in the competition.
“When Nitai called me, I had no doubt that I was enlisting to help,” she told Lasri.
Lasri and Hasson are expected to take off for Palma next week, and join the team’s coach, Gidi Kliger, for an intensive training camp before the competition. This is to allow them to practice the joint work on the boat, on which we trained as a crew only a few times.
Gidi Kliger: “There is no doubt that this is a far from ideal situation. Reaching the competition with one team is not what we hoped for, but the injury situation requires us to take unconventional actions. I am glad that Noa mobilized to help us at this time and she and Nitai are definitely an experienced team.”
Saar Tamir was injured last week during the team’s training in Palma. Orthopedic tests have been performed in recent days and the rehabilitation process is being led by the Wingate Sports Medicine Center. Gil Cohen is also in the process of rehabilitation from the previous surgery, following a shoulder dislocation, and both are expected to return to activity in a month or two.