Nur Atira puts books aside as she’s ‘fully booked’ for Junior Asia Cup
Hockey player Nur Atira Mohd Ismail will defer her studies again to focus on the Junior Asia Cup in Kakamigahara, Japan, later this year.
“I was supposed to get back to school next month but I will do so in December instead to prepare for the tournament,” said Nur Atira, who is pursuing a degree in sports science and recreation at the Universiti Teknologi Mara in Shah Alam.
This is the second time Nur Atira is postponing her studies in favour of hockey.
She also skipped one semester in January and was rewarded with a place in the national junior team training in March.
The juniors will resume training early next month at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil to prepare for the tournament which must be comleted this year.
“I’ve proven myself in two tournaments in the last two years and I will keep on doing my best in training to impress the national coaches,” she said.
During the National Women’s League in February, she scored four goals to help Hockademy lift the title.
And at the Indoor Asia Cup in Chonburi, Thailand, last year, she netted three goals in the nine-nation meet as Malaysia finished fourth.
Nur Atira added that she drew inspiration from her idol and national forward Hanis Nadiah Onn, who is the second highest scorer in the national league with 10 goals.
“Hanis and I played together for Hockademy and I’ve learned much from her. As a forward myself, I’m motivated to score goals in every match,” she said.