KUALA LUMPUR: Sport is all about never giving up despite frustrating setbacks. And you also need to have patience.
So, Melaka waited for 30 years before finally ending their squash gold drought in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) today.
U. Thanussa-Goh Zhi Xuan delivered gold after coming back from a set down to beat second seeds Yee Xin Ying-Doyce Lee of Sabah 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 in the women's doubles final at Sarawak Squash Centre.
Melaka last won a gold in squash through Sharon Wee in the women's individual in Perak in 1994.
On Monday, Thanussa-Andrik Lim missed the mixed doubles gold after losing 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 to Sarawak's Harith Danial Jefri-Nathalie Sim in the final.
Thanussa, 19, competing in her second Sukma, screamed with joy after finally winning her first Sukma gold.
"It's a big relief for us as we finally won gold after 30 years. I was not even born when Sharon Wee won it back in 1994.
"Winning the gold today was not easy as I was so frustrated in the mixed doubles final earlier, as Andrik and I gave our best but despite that we lost in the crucial stage of the deciding set.
"I was frustrated again in the women's doubles final when we lost the first set 9-11. But I never let it affect my focus. We kept fighting for every ball."
Sarawak's Nathalie Sim-Whitney Isabelle Wilson defeated Negri Sembilan's Harleein Tan-V. Haneesha 11-6, 11-3 for the bronze medal.
Meanwhile world junior bronze medallist Harith Danial Jefri won his second Sukma gold in men's doubles. Harith, who bagged the mixed doubles gold on Monday, partnered Altamis Aqhar Sallam Sufian to edge Penang's Ishant Shah-R. Dhirren 11-10, 9-11, 11-10 in the final. Melaka's Veroon Heng-Andrik Lim won the bronze by defeating Selangor's Harold Rynesh Aloysius-Erwin Kross Christopher 11-6, 10-11, 11-9.
Harith said he is looking forward to another good outing in the mixed team event, which started today.