Focused: Juwaidi Marzuki (left) and Alang Ariff Aqil Mohd Ghaz training ahead of their event at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Centre. — Bernama
NATIONAL compound archer Juwaidi Mazuki had to play three matches in three different categories under the sweltering heat at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Centre yesterday.
But the burly 33-year-old came through the tight schedule and harsh weather unscathed to coolly march into the quarter-finals in all three – the men’s individual, team and mixed pair.
Juwaidi beat Singapore’s Ng Woon Teng 146-145 in the first round and Bhutan’s Dorji Thandin 147-146 in the second to set up a meeting with South Korea’s Joo Jae-hoon in the quarter-finals today.
Then in the team event together with Alang Ariff Aqil Mohd Ghaz and Mohd Syafiq Mohd Ariffin, the trio beat Bangladesh 231-229 in the opening round for a chance to play against Iran.
He also formed a strong partnership with Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh in the mixed pair to exact revenge against Singapore’s Woon Teng-Contessa Loh 158-151 in the second round to set up a clash against India’s Pravin Ojas-Surekha Vennam for a place in the semis.
Juwaidi-Fatin had lost to Woon Teng-Contessa in the Asian Championships final earlier this year.
Juwaidi said reaching the three quarters took away all his tiredness and it was worth all the hard work.
“The feeling is great but it will be even harder from now on,” said Juwaidi.
“We will face one of the best in the world in the mixed pair. They are the title favourites.
“As for the team, Iran are a tough team.
“Syafiq showed some nerves against Bangladesh but bounced back towards the end. It was his first Asian Games, so he needed time to adapt.
“I hope to win a medal in one of these events.”
It is all over for Malaysia in the men and women’s individual recurve events.
Olympian Khairul Anuar Mohamad lost in the second round while Zarif Syahiir Zolkepli was bundled out in the opening round.
Women archers Syaqiera Mashayikh and Ku Nurin Adifah Ku Ruzaini crashed out in the quarter-finals.
