UNDER PRESSURE

Fatin wants to focus on doing her best and not think much about defending titles

DEVINDER SINGH devinder@nst.com.my

THE prospect of becoming Malaysia’s first gold medallist of the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games today has stirred mixed feelings in national compound archer Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh.

Fatin goes into the competition attempting to defend three gold medals on three consecutive days, starting with the women’s individual today, the women’s team tomorrow and the mixed team on Friday.

Although the chinlone linking event offers the first gold medal of the Games, the first strains of the Negaraku could be heard at the Synthetic Turf Field at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil instead.

Fatin, 26, prefers not to think of the attention focused on her as she prepares to defend her individual title.

“I have mixed feelings, both positive and negative, but I am trying to control it,” said Fatin after yesterday’s official practice. “I’m just trying to stay focused on what I am supposed to do and put the pressure to one side.

“I know all eyes will be on me but I’ve been trying not to think about it because I know if I do my best the result will come.

“I don’t think about having to deliver the first gold medal for Malaysia. What I put in my mind is to just do my best and focus on what I have to do, believe in God that the results will come.”

Fatin knows repeating her 2015 triple feat will not be easy given the strength of the opposition.

“I really hope so, even though it’s hard,” said Fatin when asked if another treble is possible. “Although on paper we’re still the favourites, everyone else is getting stronger.

“In archery, anything can happen. I just want to stay focused and not think about the medals.”

Besides her teammates Saritha Cham Nong, Nor Rizah Ishak and Nurul Syazhera Asmi, Fatin also face challenges from Philippines duo Amaya Paz-Cojuangco and Jennifer Chan and Myanmar’s Aung Ngeain, all previous Sea Games individual champions.

“I expect the biggest challenge to come from myself,” said Fatin. “If I know how to control myself and know how to stay focused, I think everything will be okay.”

The men’s individual competition is expected to be intense with Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Cuong seeking a hat-trick of gold medals.

Malaysia’s challenge will be led by 2015 silver medallist Zulfadhli Ruslan, Lee Kin Lip, Juwaidi Mazuki and rookie M. Khambeswaran.