Archers in line to deliver two bronzes at Universiade

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian compound archers have two chances to deliver a first-ever medal in archery at the World University G am e s (Universiade) in the South Korean city of Gwangju.

Juwaidi Mazuki (pic), who was part of the Singapore SEA Games gold medal winning team, failed in his bid to reach the men’s individual final after he lost 145-148 to top seed Kim Jong-ho of South Korea in the semi-finals yesterday.

Juwaidi, who finished fourth in the ranking round on Saturday, will take on Renaud Domanski of Belgium for the bronze medal tomorrow.

The 25-year-old Juwaidi had a first-round bye and then overcame Gurwinder Singh of India 147-144. He knocked out Lopez Cardoso of Mexico 147-145 before beating India’s Kawalpreet Singh 148-146 in the quarter-finals.

SEA Games triple gold medallist Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh was a letdown in the women’s individual compound. She failed to win her opening match yesterday.

Fatin, who was part of the World Cup gold medal winning team in Shanghai in May, finished fifth in the ranking round on Saturday. But she failed to maintain the momentum in the knockout stage, losing 141-143 to Lozano Rodriguez of Mexico in the second round.

Rodriguez also ended the campaign of another Malaysian – Norhayati Al-Madihah Hashim – in the last 16, winning 144-142.

Saritha Cham Nong also failed to impress, losing 137-141 to India’s Kacchap Priyanshu in the first round.

But there is hope yet for the women’s team as they set themselves up for a chance to claim a bronze.

The Malaysians, who were beaten 223-228 by second seeds Russia, will take on hosts South Korea in tomorrow’s third placing playoff. The South Koreans were beaten 229-234 by the Americans in the other semi-final.

The men’s compound team of Juwaidi, Zulfadhli Ruslan and Cheng Feng Hay were no match for top seeds South Korea, losing 229-237 in the first round.

In diving, Olympian Traisy Vivien Tukiet finished 11th in the women’s 10m platform individual with 281.00 points.

In fencing, 2011 SEA Games gold medallist Joshua Koh fell 11-15 to Volodymyr Stankevych of Ukraine in the second round of the men’s individual epee.

In shooting, Asian Games silver medallist Muhd Ezuan Nasir Khan was placed 20th in the men’s air rifle qualification round with 617.6 points.

Muhd Lufti Othman was 39th (608.3) and Muhd Shahril Sahak 48th (601.7).