Boardsailing: Kendall hit by arm injury at world champs

10.00am

UPDATED REPORT - An arm injury looks set to blight New Zealand sailor Barbara Kendall's title bid at the world Mistral board sailing championships in Turkey.

Kendall was leading this morning's (NZ time) fifth race off Cesme when she suffered the recurrence of an old forearm injury, making it difficult for her to hold onto the sail.

She dropped quickly back through the field to place 15th, her worst finish of the regatta so far. The result will be discounted as one of her worst.

Kendall remains in third place overall and doubts must surround her ability to continue although she reportedly will attempt to sail in the three races tomorrow.

Kendall has accrued 21 points, with leader Alessandra Sensini on six and Lai Shan Lee of Hong Kong on 13.

There was no sailing in the men's competition this morning. Tom Ashley and John Paul Tobin are the leading New Zealanders in fifth and twelfth place respectively.

Kendall's injury flared after just one leg of this morning's race.

Her coach Paul Page told Radio Sport the injury was a real concern for the remainder of the regatta and was pleased there was just one race today so she had the chance to get off the water and rest.

- NZPA