Kingston, July 28, 2025 – Annie Balasubramanian, Reilly Nakatsu and James Huynh have been named to Canada’s sailing team for the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games, to be held August 9-23 in Asunción, Paraguay.
Canadian Sailing Team member Annie Balasubramanian from Toronto will represent Canada in ILCA 6, while Reilly Nakatsu from Hammonds Plains, N.S., will compete in ILCA 7, and James Huynh from Brossard, QC, in men’s Formula Kite.
Sail Canada’s Olympic Development Coordinator Kyle Martin from Vancouver will be the Team Leader.
The sailing competition will take place August 15-17 at Playa San José and is expected to feature six races for the ILCA events and eight in Formula Kite.
“International multi-sport events like the Junior Pan American Games play a vital role in the development of our athletes,” said Sail Canada’s High Performance Director, Anders Gustafsson. “These competitions offer crucial opportunities to gain experience and benchmark progress against the best in the Americas. We are proud of our team and the commitment they’ve shown in preparing for this event, and we wish them the very best of luck in Paraguay.”
Annie Balasubramanian in ILCA 6
Annie Balasubramanian recorded the best-ever Canadian women’s performance at the 2024 ILCA U21 World Championships in Portugal with a 15th-place finish overall. At the 2022 Youth Sailing World Championships in the Netherlands, she once again delivered the top Canadian performance, coming up with the 12th position in ILCA 6, Canada’s best result since 2009. At the 2023 Youth Sailing World Championships in Brazil, she recorded Canada’s best results in more than a decade in ILCA 6 by coming in 12th overall.
She received the Sail Canada Bill Burk Memorial Elite Award in 2020-2021 and 2022, which recognizes sailors who are 18 years old and under and have shown a record of outstanding achievement in national and international youth competition, have brought recognition to Canadian competitive sailing, have set an example for other youth competitors through behaviour and manner, and have demonstrated leadership and sportsmanship.
“Representing Canada at the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games is a huge honour and milestone in my sailing career,” said Annie Balasubramanian. “It means being recognized at the international level and getting to compete against the best sailors in the Americas, while showing all the work I have put in and the progress I have made. It is also an important stepping stone in my career as it gives me an opportunity to experience a multi-sport environment, giving me a peek into what the senior Pan American Games could be like! The Junior Pan American Games will also be a chance to practice performing under pressure, racing a small fleet with only six races!”
Reilly Nakatsu in ILCA 7
Reilly Nakatsu was the top youth Canadian at the Sail Canada 2024 ILCA 7 Senior Championship with a 7th-place finish overall. Later on, at the 2024 Youth ILCA 6 Championships, he took the 35th position overall.
“It is an enormous honour to represent Canada at the Junior Pan American Games,” said Reilly Nakatsu. “It’s an opportunity to develop, learn, and give back to the sport that has greatly influenced who I am. This is a significant turning point in my sailing career, and I can’t wait to represent Canada and give it everything I’ve got.”
James Huynh in men’s Formula Kite
James Huynh finished 7th overall at the Sail Canada 2024 Formula Kite Championship. He took the 15th spot at the 2023 Formula Kite Pan American Championship.
“It’s a real honour to represent Canada at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asunción,” said James Huynh. “It’s the result of my perseverance, the many hours of training both on and off the water since my debut in 2021, and the support I’ve received along the way.”
For the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games, each country could qualify no more than one spot in each of the five sailing events to be held, in accordance with the PanAm Sailing Qualification System. After that, Canadian sailors could qualify themselves as required by Sail Canada’s Athlete Selection System and Requirements for the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games. Both documents are available through Sail Canada’s website at https://www.sailing.ca/sc_event/2025-junior-pan-american-games/.
The second edition of the Junior Pan American Games will feature more than 4,000 athletes in 42 disciplines. It is a platform for young athletes but also the opportunity to qualify for the 2027 Pan American Games. Sailors participating in the event must be at least 17 years old and no older than 22 years old in 2025.
About Sail Canada
Established in 1931, Sail Canada is the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the country. Sail Canada is a leading international sailing nation, proud of its world class athletes, lifelong participants and inclusive culture. The organization and its members are committed to excellence by developing and training its leaders, athletes, sailors, instructors, coaches and officials. With the valued support from our partners, the Provincial Sailing Associations and our member clubs, schools, organizations and stakeholders, sailing is promoted in all its forms. By setting standards and delivering programs from home pond to podium for Canadians of all ages and abilities, from dinghies to keelboats, cruising to navigation, windsurfing to powerboating and accessible sailing, Sail Canada sets sail for all, sail to win and sail for life.
A sport in the Olympic program since the first Games in 1896, except in 1904, the pursuit of success in these Games is what fuels the focus of Sail Canada as Canadian athletes have so far achieved nine Olympic and five Paralympic medals.
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Media Contact:
Patrick Godbout
Communications Manager
Sail Canada
Email: patrick@sailing.ca
Phone: 514-213-9897