NAAM: Recurve can deliver more than one
PETALING JAYA: The National Archery Association of Malaysia (NAAM) are tipping their recurve team to deliver more than just the one gold targeted at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games from Aug 19-30.
NAAM have set a four-gold target, including three from the compound archers.
But NAAM honorary-secretary Datuk Abdul Hamid Hassan has called on the recurve team to do better than just gunning for one gold as the women archers have shown major improvement on the international stage of late.
The women’s recurve trio of Nur Aliya Ghapar, Nur Afisa Abdul Halil and Loke Shin Hui certainly look capable of springing a surprise judging by their semi-final run at the World Cup in Shanghai in March and the bronze-medal finish at the Asia Cup last week.
Abdul Hamid has also tasked the men’s recurve archers – Khairul Anuar Mohamed, Haziq Kamaruddin, Muhd Akmal Nor Hasrin and Muhd Zarif Syahiir Zolkepeli, Abdul Hamid – to reclaim the individual gold they lost in Singapore two years ago. That was the first time they had let the gold slip away from them since Korat 2007.
“I believe our recurve archers are more than capable of surpassing the one-gold target,” said Abdul Hamid.
“Our men’s team are slowly getting back to their best after winning the team bronze at the World Cup in Salt Lake City last month. Our aim is to defend the team gold for the fourth time and try to win back the individual gold.
“The women are also improving and we’re pleased with all these positive signs leading up to the Games.”
Malaysia have only won the women’s recurve team gold once in the SEA Games, through S. Anbarasi, Mon Redee Sut Txi, Siti Sholeha Mohd Yusof and Fairuz Hanisah Che Ibrahim in Manila 2005.
The archery competition will be held at the National Archery Range, KL Sports City in Bukit Jalil from Aug 16-22.
Ten gold medals will be up for grabs – five each in recurve and compound.
Malaysia achieved their best-ever medal haul of 5-3-2 in Singapore 2015 – thanks to the four golds contributed by the compound archers.