The men retained the gold while the women ended a 12-year wait as Malaysian recurve archers gave a dominating performance for a grand double in the recurve team competition at the National Sports Center’s Synthetic Turf Field in Bukit Jalil on Monday.
The golden double – achieved under hot and humid conditions in sweltering heat – equalled Malaysia’s five-gold medal haul at the 2015 Sea Games in Singapore.
National archery coach Lee Jae-hyung was all smiles with the two golds and hopes there will be more to come from his charges in the recurve mixed team tomorrow (Tuesday) on the last day of archery.
“This is the first time we have won medals in each category. Hopefully we will end the sport with another golden outing,” said Jae-hyung.
The Malaysian trio of Haziq Kamaruddin, Khairul Anuar Mohamad, and Muhammad Akmal Nor Hasrin out shot Thailand’s Denchai Thepna, Natthapoom Phusawat, Witthaya Thamwong 5-1 for the gold.
In the women’s final Malaysia’s Nur Afisa Abdul Halil, Nur Aliya Ghapar and Nuramalia Haneesha Mazlan ended Indonesia’s reign with a 5-1 win. Malaysia last won the recurve women team gold in Manila in 2005.
For Khairul Anuar Mohamad the gold made up for his disappointment of losing the men’s recurve final to Vietnam’s Anh Chu Duc on Sunday but the Olympian credited the win to his teammate Haziq and Akmal.
“Frankly, I am still in a daze over my defeat in the (individual) final is hard to swallow…I lost my feelings. However, my teammates encouraged me to give my best and I am glad that I did enough to win the gold for the fourth time in the event,” said Khairul.
The women archers were rather surprised with the gold.
“We did not expect to make the final let alone win the gold. There were tough teams like Vietnam. However, after we won 5-2 against Vietnam in the semi-finals it gave us hope against Indonesia.
“Still, the Indonesians were the defending champions and the winning the gold gives us satisfaction. This is for is Malaysia and all others, coaches, parents, officials and the media who have played a role in our achievement,” said Nur Aliya who won the individual bronze on Sunday.
RESULTS
TEAM RECURVE FINALS
MEN
Gold
Malaysia beat Thailand 5-1
Bronze
Philippines beat Vietnam 6-0
WOMEN
Gold
Malaysia beat Indonesia 5-1
Bronze
Philippines beat Vietnam 6-0
