Missing BEC a blessing in disguise for Syaidatul
PETALING JAYA: There’s always a silver lining amid misfortune.
National bowler Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi was forced to skip the Brunswick Euro Challenge ( BEC) in Munich, Germany, this week due to a wrist injury, but it’s not all doom and gloom.
The 27- year- old earned her redemption of sorts when the six members of last year’s World Championships gold medal-winning side were named the Women’s Team of the Year at the National Sports Awards on Tuesday.
Together with Shalin Zulkifli, Esther Cheah, Sin Li Jane, Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman and Natasha Roslan, the team were recognised for reclaiming the World Championships team gold after 10 years in Las Vegas last December.
Syaidatul was the only member present as the rest are away in Munich.
“I guess everything happens for a reason,” said Syaidatul.
“At least one of us is here to receive the prestigious award and I had the honour to represent the team.
“It has to be one of my proudest day in my life.
“I have dreamt of winning at the National Sports Awards because it’s the highest recognition you could receive as a national athlete.
“It means a lot to all of us.
“We fought really hard to become the world champions.”
Syaidatul admitted she felt “incomplete” at first to be standing on the stage by herself, but it was later made up when she received a video call from Munich.
“Li Jane called me and the rest also joined in the conversation.
“They wanted to be part of the big night, so I showed them the atmosphere and the trophy I collected on behalf everyone,” said Syaidatul.
“It was really a moment to cherish. This award is going to boost our confidence greatly ahead of the Asian Games.”
For now, Syaidatul’s immediate focus is to recover swiftly from her wrist injury with the Thailand Open looming next month.
She suffered from triangular fibrocartilage complex ( TFCC) tear two weeks ago.
TFCC is a cartilage structure located on the small finger side of the wrist that, cushions and supports the small carpal bones in the wrist.
The last time bowling won at the National Sports Awards was in 2008, also through the national women’s team that comprised Shalin, Esther, Choy Poh Lai, Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi, Sharon Koh and Wendy Chai.
The team bagged the 2007 World Championships team title in Monterrey in Mexico.