SEA GAMES: Day Tinged With Sadness

Joy at clinching gold and silver in archery at the Sea Games in Jakarta yesterday was mixed with sadness following the demise of Paralympian archer Salam Sidik.

Cheng Chu Sian (right) and Khairul Anuar Mohammad face off in the men’s recurve individual final yesterday. Chu Sian won 6-2.

   Cheng Chu Sian completed a hat-trick of Sea Games individual gold medals with a 6-2 win over Khairul Anuar Mohammad but the win in the men's recurve individual final seemed like a mere after-thought as the two medalists paid tribute to Salam, who died in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

"I just heard about it just now," said Chu Sian immediately after the final at the Senayan archery venue. "It's so sudden and shocking.

"We never discussed archery much but we talked about other things. Salam used to come to me for advice on cameras as he's very much into them," said Chu Sian.

Khairul, making his Sea Games debut said of Salam: "I really admired his determination to succeed. It's a sad day for Malaysian archery."

Chu Sian's victory came despite a rising temperature and started badly when he lost the first set 30-26 but recovered to take the next three 28-27, 30-28, 27-26.

"My condition was not the best. I felt like I was falling sick but managed to win somehow," said Chu Sian, who has fallen behind Khairul in the world rankings list.

"I don't think I had anything to prove. As teammates, we challenge each other and this will raise the standing of Malaysian archery and help us achieve more success.

"There is no hard feelings. We are here to help the country win."

Khairul had been seeking to add the Sea Games gold to his win at the Asian Championships, silver at the Shanghai World Cup and bronze at the London Archery Classic.

"I performed like how I normally do in training. There was no tension, just some problems with my shooting," said Khairul, who added he is pleased to win a medal in his Games debut.

The Malaysian women did not fare as well with Olympic qualifier Nurul Syafiqah Hashim exiting in the first round and Shahira Abdul Halim in the quarter-finals.

Read more: SEA GAMES: Day tinged with sadness - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/sea-games-day-tinged-with-sadness-1.6579#ixzz1dqGuNpNz