KUCHING: Terengganu archers Saiful Islam Mohd Rizuwan and Nurul Izzah Mazlan have finally achieved the breakthrough they have long been waiting for.
Saiful-Izzah claimed gold in the mixed recurve event at the Sarawak Malaysia Games (Sukma) today after beating Pahang's Haiqal Danish Syamsul Affandi and Nur Rafiqa Izzlyn Zaidi 6-2 in the final.
The bronze medal went to Selangor's Ahmad Razin Azahar and Nur Ieka Hariesya Zainal Habsahli, who defeated the host Sarawak's Joey Tan Xing Lei and Liew Yu Jie, also with a score of 6-2.
Saiful said that since he partnered Nurul Izzah in 2018, they had never reached the final in any competition they entered.
"We have teamed up for many competitions but have never won a medal or reached the final," said the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) student.
"We often got stuck at the semi-final stage and just could not bring home a medal."
Saiful now has two gold medals in the bag as he had earlier shot down the men's recurve 70m category gold.
Terengganu have been in dominant form at the Petra Jaya archery range this week.
They also won the mixed compound gold via Aiman Syafiq Tariki and Nurul Syaza Husna Mahari who defeated Federal Territories' Afiq Zufar Shah and Hadira Hisham with a score of 151-147 in the decider.
The third place was claimed by Pahang's Ameerul Muqri Munzir and Safi Qurratu Aini Saifol Anuar, who defeated Johor archers Danish Nadzimuddin and Alya Fariesya Ruslam with a score of 149-145.