From fists to kicks – boxer Rakib’s son seeks glitter in taekwondo

PETALING JAYA: Rakib Ahmad made a name for himself in the boxing ring by slugging his way to the bronze medal at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.

Now his son Ahmad Nor Iman (pic) hopes to continue the family’s sporting legacy by winning a medal at the SEA Games but in a different combat sport.

The 19-year-old is among seven new faces in the taekwondo team called up for the kyorugi discipline ahead of the Philippines SEA Games from Nov 30-Dec 11.

Ahmad Nor got the nod yesterday after winning gold in the men’s 63kg category at the Asean Taekwondo Championships in Manila two weeks ago.

And he is determined to fight his way to a medal although he is only making his SEA Games debut in the Olympic sport.

“I have been in the national training programme since last year but the SEA Games will be a big step up for me,” said Ahmad Nor, who has been involved in taekwondo for more than a decade.

“Winning gold in the Asean championships is a boost but I know it will be tougher in the SEA Games as Thailand fighter Nareupong Thepsen will be taking part.

“He did not fight at the Asean meet. I’ll be happy with any medal as taekwondo at the SEA Games is very competitive.”

Terengganu-born Ahmad Nor said he had his father’s blessings to take up a different sport.

“My father was involved in boxing but has never forced me to follow in his footsteps. He is very supportive of my involvement.

“I know he will be proud that I followed after him as he also won a medal at the SEA Games,’’ said Ahmad Nor, a 2018 Malaysia Games (Sukma) gold medallist in kyorugi.

Taekwondo Malaysia technical director R. Dhanaraj said the National Sports Council have agreed to support a total of 15 exponents (10 for kyorugi and five for poomsae) for the SEA Games.

“Our target is to win two gold medals (one each from kyorugi and poomsae).

“We would have set a higher target but 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games gold winner Rozaimi Razali has quit, so we do not have any fighter for the men’s 68kg.”

The others in the team are male kyorugi fighters A. Navin (58kg), Muhd Luqman Hakim (74kg), Mohd Syariffudin (84kg) and Muhd Syafiq Zuber (72kg) and the women are Lian Pei Yin (47kg), Nurul Ashiqin Azmi (57kg), Nurul Farah Alisa Roslan (63kg), Nur Aqilah Suraya (72kg) and Nur Anis Natasha (above 72kg).