KUCHING: Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi served the nation for 11 years before retiring as a national bowler in 2020.
Her striking good looks and personable manner saw her dabble in acting, and she also amassed 200,000 followers on Instagram.
But like most former athletes, she eventually returned to what she knows best — the sport to which she dedicated her life.
The 2017 world champion was appointed head coach of Perak in January.
With her long-time mentor Shamsudin Jamalludin, 68, by her side, she guided Faris Zainal Abidin and Syed Adrees Darwiz Syed Zunizam to create history for the state at the Sarawak Malaysia Games (Sukma) on Friday.
"It's been 18 years since a men's doubles combination won gold for Perak. I'm really proud of them.
"I took over as coach early this year after the Perak Tenpin Bowling Association made an offer. I had been assisting unofficially behind the scenes in 2022.
"Every week, I would travel from Kuala Lumpur to Perak and spend four days, from Friday until Monday, training my home state team at Ipoh Parade.
"I have taught the players all I know about this sport, and I'm satisfied with their performance. They didn't give up, communicated well with each other, and fought until the end," the 32-year-old said at Sarawak Megalanes Emart after the medal ceremony on Friday.
Shamsudin, who was Syaidatul Afifah's first Sukma coach in 2006, was overwhelmed with emotion when the Perak state anthem was played at the venue.
"The last time Perak won gold in men's doubles was in 2006. We won silver in 2014, so it has been a long wait to reclaim gold."
An emotional Syed Adrees said the gold medal is vindication that he belongs in the sport.
"This gold medal proves that I belong here. I have been training for 10 years but did not get a chance to prove myself.
"I started in the Perak squad when I was 10 years old and rose from a backup to a senior bowler. But a lot has happened, and Covid-19 also held back my progress, so I'm ecstatic with this win in my first Sukma," said the 20-year-old.
Faris expressed pride in making his coaches, parents, and state proud by winning the gold medal.
Faris-Syed Adrees recorded 2,479 pinfalls to win the men's doubles title.
Melaka's Darryl Ariel Punzalan Soo- Noor Hidayat Nazri (2,459 pinfalls) won silver, while Penang's Zuhair Zailani-Hafiz Darwisy Azhlan (2,389 pinfalls) took bronze.