PETALING JAYA: It was a sad second day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri for the Malaysian sports community after Olympian recurve archer Haziq Kamaruddin's (pic) sudden passing.
Haziq, who would have turned 28 on July 4, passed away on Friday (May 14) morning at his home in Kajang, Selangor.
The cause of death will only be known after an autopsy ordered by the police at Kajang Hospital.
Haziq had been with the national archery team for the last 10 years and competed in two Olympics – London 2012 and Rio 2016.
He bagged four medals in the annual World Cup series – two silvers (Shanghai 2011 and Medellin 2013) and two bronzes (Salt Lake City 2017 and 2018).
He was a member of the men's recurve team that clinched silver at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
It was the first time Malaysia had won an archery medal at the Asian Games stage.
It is understood that Haziq had made a request for special leave to be allowed to celebrate Hari Raya with his wife, who was at home alone in Kajang, on the first day of Hari Raya.
He was supposed to return to training on Thursday (May 13) afternoon.
National Sports Council director Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said Haziq's sudden passing is a big loss to Malaysian sports.
"I was told that Haziq had no problems when he last trained with the team on Tuesday (May 11).
"He was supposed to travel to Paris next month with the men's recurve team to help Malaysia win one of the three remaining spots at stake for the Tokyo Olympics.
"Our condolences to Haziq and his family," said Ahmad Shapawi.
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