JUWAIDI TAKES TWO GOLD
Compound archer misses the treble after silver in team event
JUWAIDI Mazuki may not have achieved triple gold medals at the Hanoi Sea Games, but it was still a joyous day for the compound archer who won two titles yesterday.
The start of the day did not go as planned for Juwaidi as he and his teammates (Alang Ariff Aqil Ghazali and Wong Co Wan) were edged by just one point in the men’s team final. They lost 230-229 to Indonesia at the Hanoi National Training Centre.
Undeterred, Juwaidi partnered with Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh to win the mixed team final with a close 151-150 (37-36, 38-39, 38-37, 38-38) victory over the Philippines’ Jennifer Dy Chan-Paul Marton Santos Dela Cruz.
It was their third gold medal in the event after the 2015 (Singapore) and 2017 (Kuala Lumpur) editions.
The fired-up Juwaidi then clinched the men's title after downing Thailand's Sirapop
Chainak 147-42 (30-26, 30-28, 30-30, 28-29, 29-29) in the final. Alang Ariff claimed the bronze by defeating Vietnam's Van Day Nguyen 146-143. Juwaidi was pleased with his two-gold effort yesterday.
“I knew it would be very important to secure my first gold via the mixed team event as it would put less pressure on me in the individual final,” said Juwaidi.
“I felt confident going into the men’s final. I am happy to finally win my first individual medal in my fifth Sea Games. It could have had three titles, but I am just as happy with two.”
Fatin, meanwhile, who won the mixed team title with Juwaidi said: “It was a very close final. We won it by just one point.
“I think it was just meant to be today (yesterday).
“I was not at my best but told myself that I had to do well with my final arrow.
“I did just that. I must thank my partner for guiding me through the final,” said Fatin.
Fatin had also clinched the
women's team bronze together with Iman Aisyah Norazam and P. Kayalvhily after beating the Philippines 227-224.
Malaysia ended their campaign with two gold, one silver and two bronze medals.