Seven from silat
National exponents end campaign with 10 golds
ONE national silat exponent ended his career with a somersault. The other announced her arrival on the big stage.
Muhd Faizul Mohd
Nasir and Siti Shazwana Ajak gave rousing performances to win their bouts on a day silat delivered a total of seven golds in the silat tand ding (combat) competition at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara.
Combined with three golds from silat seni, Malaysia wrapped up their silat campaign with a massive 10gold haul.
The 29yearold Faizul went on the assault right from the start to beat Vietnamese Nguyen Dinh Tuan for a convincing 50 win to defend the gold in the Putra B final.
And he celebrated with a somersault – much to the delight of his supporters.
“This is my last SEA Games. I promised to deliver and I’ve kept my word. I can now leave knowing that I’ve given my best to the nation,” he said.
Faizul, who was in Da Lat, Vietnam, for four months with the silat squad to prepare for the SEA Games, is happy that his sacrifices have paid off.
“I was away from my wife (Partini Sarikin Sari Adnan) for four months. I did not celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri with my family. We had like only 30 minutes free time a day there. We were really focused on training,” said Faizul.
“I also hurt my knuckles during training, but it’s all worth it. I’m happy to end my career by defending the gold.”
The Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Skudai finalyear student will resume his mechanical engineering course after deferring it for the past 2½ years.
In contrast, 25yearold Siti Shazwana is just beginning her career in the national team. And she made sure everyone took notice of her with a 50 win over Thailand’s Rewadee Damsri in the Putri D final.
Although she ended the bout by limping off the court with an ankle injury, there was joy written all over the Sabahan’s face.
“I joined the national team just four months ago, so it’s amazing to win my first gold medal,” said the exponent from Lahad Datu.
“I injured my right ankle during the semifinals yesterday (on Monday) but I didn’t allow it to affect me at all. I think I’ve aggravated it.
“This gold is a good start for me. I hope to achieve more.”
Malaysia’s reigning world champions Mohd Al Jufferi Jamari and Siti Rahmah Mohd Nasir also lived up to their favourite tags to win the Putra E and Putri E golds yesterday.
Al Jufferi oozed class in his 50 win over Pham Tuan Anh of Vietnam in the 6570kg class for his fourth consecutive SEA Games gold.
Seasoned campaigner Siti Rahmah also put up a convincing show to beat Indonesian Pipet Kamelia 50.
Malaysia also won golds through Razak Ghazali (Putra D), Mohd Fauzi Khalid (Putra F) and Mohd Robial Sobri (Putra H).