Muslifah aims for gold after beating migraine
KUALA LUMPUR: National rifle shooter Muslifah Zulkifli is ready to aim for the bull’s-eye now that she has overcome her biggest problem – loss of concentration due to migraine.
The 31-year-old Muslifah, who was bothered by the constant migraine attacks which affected her concentration during trainings and tournaments last year, underwent nasal surgery at a hospital here on Thursday.
“I was suffering from migraine quite regularly ... it affected my performance last year. I lost focus.
“Nasal surgery seemed to be the best option. I decided to do it before the season starts.
“After a good one-week rest, I should be back at the shooting range,” said Muslifah as she goes in search of the elusive gold medal at her seventh SEA Games outing here in August.
The 2014 Incheon Asian Games bronze medallist was in fiery form in 2015, before the migraine attacks derailed her.
In 2015, she bagged a silver medal at the Singapore SEA Games in July and a bronze at the Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait in November.
Muslifah has two assignments lined up for her once she recovers from the surgery – the Selangor Open and the World Cup in Melbourne next month.
But it’s the maiden SEA Games gold medal that she’s longing for.
“I’ve been competing in every SEA Games since the 2005 edition in Manila, but I’ve never won the gold.
“I hope to end my gold drought this time,” she said.
She failed to win a medal in her Games debut in Manila, but clinched a silver in Korat (2007), two bronzes in Vientiane (2009), one bronze each in Palembang (2011) and Naypyitaw (2013) and silver in Singapore (2015).
Muslifah admitted that it would be more challenging to win a gold medal in the KL Games as hosts Malaysia are only offering medals for individual events.
Muslifah is one of five shooters under the Podium Programme.
The others are Nur Suryani Taibi, Nur Ayuni Farhana Abdul Halim (women’s rifle); Muhd Ezuan Nasir Khan (men’s rifle); and Alia Sazana Azahari (women’s pistol).