Archer Khairul keeps Olympic fire burning for dad's sake

Torch bearer Khairul Anuar Mohamad, who recently qualified for RIO Games in archery making his way to the stage at KLCC. RAYMOND OOI/ The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Hislate father’s final words of wisdom still rings loud and clear in national recurve archer Khairul Anuar Mohamad’s ears.

His 60-year-old father – Mohamad Said – passed away due to heart complications just days before Khairul left for the Final Qualification Tournament in Antalya, Turkey, last month.

In Antalya, Khairul combined with Haziq Kamaruddin and Muhd Akmal Nor Hasrin to finish third to help Malaysia secure a ticket in the team event for the Rio Olympics.

All three archers will also shoot in the individual event at the Olympics by virtue of Malaysia earning one of the 12 spots at stake in the team event.

From left, the three archers are Khairul Anuar Mohamad, Mohd Akmal Nor Hasrun Haziq Kamaruddin and shooter Johnathan Wong. They show off shoes they received in preparation for Rio Games

“Ensuring Malaysia earn a ticket for the team event was my father’s last wish,” said Khairul, of Teren­gganu.

“Although I had qualified (for the individual event in the Rio Olympics) earlier through the Asian Champion­ships in Bangkok last year, my father wanted the other team members to also win a place in the Rio Games in what was the final qualification event.

“We’ve never missed out on qualifying for the team event since the Beijing Olympics in 2008. 

“I was sad that I wasn’t around my family at that time, but my father’s words have strengthened my resolve.

“My father also wanted me to give my best so that I can achieve something in Rio this time. 

“He advised me not to squander the opportunity. The Olympics come once every four years and I probably won’t have another chance.

“He made me promise that I will not disappoint him.”

Khairul and national coach Lee Jae-hyung.

The archery team are undergoing training at the Kolon Archery Club in Incheon, South Korea.

They’ve been based there for the last two weeks and managed to practice with the club’s members, including 2007 world recurve individual champion Lee Chang-hwan, who also helped South Korea win the recurve team gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

“You cannot get a better training environment than at the Kolon club. We are put through simulated training environment daily to help us shoot more consistently,” said the 25-year-old Khairul, who feels that Malaysia stand a better chance of making a breakthrough in the team event than in the individual event.

“The best-of-five-set format will be used in Rio. Anything can happen under this format, so it’s important for us to be consistent throughout the competition.

“We have a better chance in the team event as there are only 12 teams.

“If we get our rhythm early and can reach the top four in the ranking round, we stand a chance to get a medal.”

Khairul hopes to come good in Rio.

The archers will be the first Malaysians to be in action in Rio on Aug 5, when the ranking rounds are held before the team event is contested the following day.

Malaysia have never reached the team semi-finals at the Olympics.

At the 2008 Beijing Games, Malaysia lost 213-218 to Italy in the quarter-finals. Four years later in London, Malaysia lost 211-216 to Mexico in the first round.

Rio will be the second Olympic appearance for Khairul and Haziq. In London, Khairul managed to reach the quarter-finals while Haziq exited early in the first round.

Khairul said that the pressure they were put under in Antalya would stand them in good stead in Rio.

In Antalya, the team showed nerves of steel by recovering from losing positions in three of their four matches to snatch the final men’s team berth,

“In the first two matches of the shoot-off, we came under severe pressure but we maintained our rhythm and kept supporting each other. And that helped us get the last quota spot for the Olympics,” said Khairul.