Malaysian archers failed to win a gold on the first day of the recurve events at the Synthetic Turf Field, National Sports Centre, Bukit Jalil on Sunday.
Malaysia ended the day with a silver and a bronze through Khairul Anuar Mohamad in men’s recurve and Nur Aliya Ghapar in the women’s recurve.
A misfiring Khairul Anuar Mohamad could not get his act right in the final against Vietnam’s 21-year-old Anh Chu Duc and lost tamely 2-6 – much to the disappointment of the large home crowd that had turned up to cheer the Malaysians.
Earlier Muhammad Akmal Nor Hasrin lost his bronze medal playoff match to Thailand’s Witthaya Thamwong who won 4-2.
“I apologize to Malaysia for failing to win the gold. It just did not turn out well for me in the final and was way off target. I had targetted the gold…but winning the silver is a consolation. I hope to redeem myself in the team event tomorrow (Monday),” said Khairul.
The others in the team are Haziq Kamaruddin and Muhammad Akmal Nor Hasrin. Malaysia has drawn a bye in the quarter-finals and will the winners of the Indonesia-Philippines in the semi-finals.
Chu Duc was more than happy to win the gold for his country and said: “I lost for words to beat a local hero in the final and win the gold for my country.”
Indonesia’s Diananda Choirunisa was simply jubilant to win her first recurve women gold after three attempts – with a 6-4 win over Nicole Marie Tagle in the final.
At the 2015 Sea Games in Singapore the Indonesia won the doubles silver.
“I did not expect to reach the final let alone win the gold. I am lost for words but I am so happy to be the champion and win the gold for my country and myself,” said Diananda.
On her bronze medal effort, Nur Aliya was rather surprised with the easy 6-0 win over Myanmar’s Nwe Thida in the playoff.
Nur Aliya said the individual bronze will spur her to do well in the team event at the same venue on Monday. The others in the team are Nur Afisa Abdul Halil and Nurmalia Haneesha Mazlan.
RESULTS
RECURVE
MEN’S SINGLES
Gold match: Anh Chu Duc (Vie) beat Khairul Anuar Mohamad (Mas) 6-2
Bronze playoff: Witthaya Thamrong (Tha) beat Muhammad Akmal Nor Hasrin (Mas) 4-2
WOMEN’S SINGLES
Gold match: Diananda Choirunisa (Ina) beat Nicole Marie Tagle (Phi) 6-4
Bronze playoff: Nur Aliya Ghapar (Mas) beat Nwe Thida (Mya) 6-0
