KUCHING: Archer Afiq Zufar Mohamad Shah is glad that his decision to switch from recurve to compound about a year ago had paid off at the 2024 Malaysia Games (Sukma).
The 20-year-old Federal Territories (FT) archer, fresh from winning the men's 50-metre (m) compound gold medal at the Petra Jaya Archery Range today, is grateful that all the hard work put in, including undergoing intensive day-long training, has led to victory in his first and final Sukma appearance in Sarawak.
"I never expected to win because this is my first (and last) Sukma and, in the first set, I was ranked fourth but I still tried to do the best I could. Previously, I tried my hands at recurve but wasn't so good at it, so about a year ago I switched to the compound event.
"At first my mother did not let me switch but she understood my situation and told me to just go out there and do my best. When I wanted to make the change, I got inspiration from (national archer) Mohd Juwaidi Mazuki and I even met him before this," he told reporters at the range.
Reflecting on his archery journey, Afiq Zufar said he began familiarising himself with bows and arrows when he enrolled in a religious school in Melaka at 13.
Afiq Zufar said he also holds steadfastly to the advice from his family to always respect those older than him and to never go against the coach.
Earlier, Afiq Zufar and Terengganu's Muhammad Aiman Syafiq Mohd Tariki found themselves tied on 692 points in the men's 50m compound event. The FT archer was awarded the gold as his arrows were closest to the centre.
Perak's Abdul Faathir Aqil Rafizam took bronze with 691 points.
Meanwhile, Terengganu woman archer Nurul Syaza Husna Mahari, who nearly quit the sport, breathed a huge sigh of relief when she marked her second appearance in the biennial Games with a gold in the 50m compound event.
"I did stop for a while as I could not take the tough training sessions. But then I took it up again and I'm glad all that hard work has been worth it.
"I am just an average shooter but I always tell myself to remember why I am participating in Sukma. That is my biggest success… to make my parents in a village in Kuala Terengganu proud," said Nurul Syaza Husna, who scored 681 points.
FT's Hadira Hisham and Sarawak's Aira Nadirah Aizuddin both scored 680 points but the Hadira took silver as her arrows were closest to the centre. --BERNAMA