Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Archers eye three Gold Medals in Singapore

 
KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 (Bernama) -- The National Archery Association of Malaysia (NAAM) is aiming to equal its best ever Sea Games outing by setting a three-gold target for next month's SEA Games in Singapore from June 5-16.

NAAM President Mohamad Yazid Yahya said the three gold medals are targetted from the men's Recurve team, men's and women's Compound teams.

"Speaking of gold medal prospects, our Compound team is considered strong. In men's team all are equal, except Muhamad Zaki Mahazan, the form of the day will decide who will rise to the occasion.

"Similarly the women's Compound team will be focused on Saritha Cham Nong, Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh and Norhayati Al Madihah Hashim who had shown good form at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Open recently," he told Bernama when contacted today.

At the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar, the National squad won two gold, three silver and two bronze medals.

Khairul Anuar Mohamad won the first gold medal through the individual Recurve and later teamed up with Atiq Bazil Bakri and Haziq Kamaruddin to win the men's Recurve team gold.

National archery coach Lee Jae-Hyung was also confident with the Compound team but has warned the Compound archers to be cautious of the threat posed by teams from Indonesia and Vietnam.

Mohamad Yazid said 16 archers will head to Singapore for the SEA Games and compete in all 10 events comprising five categories in Compound and Recurve respectively, namely men's and women's individual, men's and women's team and mixed team events.

Meanwhile, Mohamad Yazid said the Compound trio made up of Norhayati Al Madihah Hashim, Saritha Cham Nong and Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh who won the gold medal at the World Cup First Series in Shanghai, China last week would not be competing in the Second Series to be held in Antalya, Turkey from May 26-31, to avoid any disappointment, in the event they failed to win.

"They competed in the First Series as part of preparations for the SEA Games but they pulled off a pleasant surprise by winning the gold medal. However, since the date for the SEA Games is close, we are afraid that if they went there and lost, it would affect their confidence and mental strength," he said.

-- BERNAMA

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