Sports fraternity shocked by sudden death of Haziq

National recurve archer Haziq Kamaruddin passed away yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: National recurve archer Haziq Kamaruddin was looking forward to the chance to fight for a third straight Olympics appearance in Tokyo in three weeks time.

But that moment will never come with his sudden passing early yesterday.

The 27-year-old archer suddenly collapsed after performing morning prayer at his home in Kajang, marking a sad second day of Hari Raya for the Malaysian sports community.

The cause of death will only be know after an autopsy at the Kajang Hospital but a Covid-19 test result came out negative in the afternoon.

Haziq’s remains were brought to Melaka last night and he is expected to be buried early in the morning, according to a statement from the National Sports Council.

Haziq’s sudden passing is a big loss to the national archery team.

He has been with the national team for the last 10 years and competed in the 2012 London Olympics as well as the 2016 edition in Rio de Janeiro.

Haziq has also bagged four medals in the annual World Cup series to date – 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 who bagged silver at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

It was the first time Malaysia had won an archery medal at the Asian Games.

National coach Lee Jae-hyung said Haziq 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 and also compete in the World Cup meet at the same time.

“Haziq was with us for our last training session on Wednesday and he looked his normal self.

“It was a half-day session and he later requested for special leave as he wanted to be with his wife, who was staying alone in Kajang. He was supposed to return for training in the afternoon.

“I can’t believe he is gone. It’s a very big loss as he’s a senior member of the national team, ” said the Korean coach, who has been with the national team for nearly two decades.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican also expressed his condolences to Haziq’s family.

“I feel sad looking at the faces of his wife Shahira who suddenly lost her husband.

“These are difficult moments for their families and I hope we give them space to mourn, ” said Reezal, who also urged certain parties to stop linking Haziq’s sudden passing to Covid-19 vaccine.

“It’s an irresponsible action. I hope they do not spread this kind of speculation.

“I was with the 242 athletes, including Haziq, who took the same vaccine. We give room to the hospital authorities to do a proper autopsy.

“Let’s respect the feelings of their families, ” he said.

Haziq and Reezal were among the early batch of national athletes who received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on April 14. They completed the second dose on May 4.