Men and women’s recurve archers grab bronze at Asia Cup Stage 3

All smiles: The Malaysian men and women’s recurve teams posing with their bronze medals after the Asia Cup Stage 3 in Taiwan yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian women’s recurve archers continued their rise, this time by winning the team bronze at the Asia Cup Stage 3 in Taiwan.

Nur Aliya Ghapar, Nur Afisa Abdul Halil and Loke Shin Hui, who combined to reach the World Cup semi-finals in Shanghai in May, triumphed 6-0 (52-50, 55-54, 56-51) against India’s Ankita Bhakat, Promila Daimary and Madhu Vedwan in the third placing playoff in Taoyuan yesterday.

Earlier in March, Malaysia were placed fourth in the Asia Cup Stage 2 in Bangkok.

Coach Marbawi Sulaiman was all smiles to see his charges – previously labelled as the weakest department in the national set-up – going from strength to strength this season.

“The team showed a lot of promise since the beginning of the year. I’m really pleased that they were able to keep the momentum going to win the bronze.

“It’s a great confidence booster for next month’s Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. There’s no target for the women archers, but I believe they are medal contenders,” said Marbawi.

Malaysia also claimed a bronze in the men’s team.

The back-up trio of Muhd Zarif Syahiir Zolkepeli, Norhairulnizam Rosdi and Ahmad Afiq Akhiroman stunned Thailand, represented by their SEA Games squad, 5-4 in a come-from-behind win.

Malaysia trailed 2-0 after losing 53-54 and 48-49 in the first two sets.

But they stormed back to win 55-50 and 51-47 to force a tie-break. In the three-arrow shootoff, Malaysia shot a 28 compared to Thailand’s 27.

Malaysia had also beaten Thailand en route to the gold at the South-East Asian Championships in Myanmar in January.

Malaysia ended the one-week tournament with two silvers and three bronzes.

On Saturday, Mohd Juwaidi Mazuki, Zulfadhli Ruslan and Lee Kin Lip finished runners-up to Taiwan in the men’s team final. Kin Lip also settled for a silver in the men’s individual.

Another bronze was contributed by Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh in the women’s individual.