Monday, 7 December: There is disappointing news for Sweden’s Jonna Borgstrom who has been ruled out of the final Grand Prix of the season in Sharjah later this month, 19-20, due to illness.

The 18-year-old, currently in fifth spot in the overall standings and who had hopes of fighting for a top-three season finish, will be replaced by her cousin Sandra, also 18, who makes her UIM-ABP Aquabike Class Pro World Championship debut.

The Borgstrom Racing cousins are part of Sweden’s growing presence on the international scene; Jonna making her debut on the UIM-ABP tour in Italy last year finishing third, her younger sister Sofie, at just 15, making her debut in Italy earlier this year.

Sandra Borgstrom has been racing for eight years and is no stranger to international competition, racing in the USA and Europe and dividing her time between her studies, recently winning a European event in Poland, Jonna finishing second. Sandra’s eldest sister Jessica, also an accomplished racer, has put her racing activities on hold to concentrate on her studies.

Adding to Sweden’s girl power is good friend Emma-Nellie Ortendhal who heads to Sharjah as co-favourite with Jennifer Menard to lift the title.