UPM archers emerge as champions
Putra Malaysia (UPM) have proved that they are a force to be reckoned with in archery.
They emerged as overall champions by winning the most medals in the sport at the fiveday Institutions of Higher Learning Games (SUKIPT).
UPM amassed six gold, four silver and three bronze medals to take top spot while Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UNISZA) came in second with five gold, three silver and four bronze with Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) third with two gold, one silver and three bronze.
UPM won all four gold medals contested yesterday in the men’s and women’s team compound events, as well as the men’s and women’s team recurve.
UPM’s head coach for archery, Faiz Mokhtar Lopi said their archers’ determination to succeed, though being busy with their studies, along with a high level of discipline, are among the reasons behind their success.
“Alhamdulillah on the last day of competition we made a clean sweep of all the gold medals contested and my team proved that they are the best among the universities in Malaysia at present.
In the competition at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UPM archer Mohd Alif Adha Hassan was in top form, winning three gold and one silver throughout the archery competition.
The 25-year-old said: “I hope to reach peak performance by the time the Asean University Games (AUG) takes place in Myanmar come December.”
Meanwhile in athletics, Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli, who represented Universiti Putra Malaysia, won the women’s 100m gold, clocking 12.04s, ahead of her nearest rival Sureewan Runan of Thammasat University (12.39s) with bronze going to Nor Ashikin Md Isa from Malaysia Polytechnic (13.23s).
UiTM’s Muhammad Aqil Yasmin caused a stunning upset in the men’s 100m when he finished first with a new Games record time of 10.53s, beating national athlete Jonathan Nyepa who was representing UPM (10.79s). UiTM’s Muhammad Nazrul Naim Azman came in third with 10.83s.