Veteran archer Fatin shows she’s still a long way from bowing out

PETALING JAYA: Seasoned archer Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh (pic) showed she is still a force to be reckoned with on the international stage after storming into the women’s compound individual final in the opening leg of the Asia Cup in Bangkok.

The 34-year-old archer secured her first final appearance in the individual event after edging Independent Neutral Athletes (AIN) representative Dimiduk Mariia 144-143 in a closely fought semi-final encounter.

Fatin had overcome fellow Malaysian Ong Sui Kim 144-140 in the last 16 and went on to reach the last four with a 144-138 win over Singapore’s Madeleine Ong.

Fatin had a first-round bye and advanced to the last 16 by beating Thai archer Kamram Kanokpit 143-127.

Standing between the Sabah-born archer and a breakthrough success tomorrow is another AIN archer Arina Cherkezova, the 2019 world junior champion.

Fatin finished third in the qualification rounds with 702 points with Cherkezova securing the top seed status after notching 705 points.

The Bangkok stage of the Asia Cup has always been a good hunting ground for Fatin as she partnered Alang Aqil Arif Mohd Ghazalli to take gold in the mixed team compound event last year.

Evan Rich Chong’s bid to follow in Fatin’s footsteps to make a final appearance did not materialise after the national team newcomer lost 3-7 to Vietnam’s Hoang Phi Vu in the men’s individual recurve semi-finals.

Evan will take on AIN’s Batuev Kirill for a chance to pick up a second bronze medal for himself.

Evan earlier combined with Mohd Haiqal Danish Affandi and Quik Chern Xin to beat Taiwan 6-2 in the bronze medal match for the men’s team recurve after a 1-5 defeat to India in the semis.

Fatin had earlier led Malaysia to clinch bronze in the team compound event. Fatin, Abdul Muhaimin Aina Syazwana and Sui Kim won a sudden death shoot-out against Thailand after both were tied at 29-all after four sets.

The Malaysian team, seeded second, lost 227-229 to third seeds Kazakhstan in the semi-finals earlier.

The women’s recurve archery team missed out on the bronze after losing 1-5 to India.

Veteran men’s compound archer Juwaidi Mazuki’s bid for a medal in the individual event ended after he lost 146-148 to India’s Chauhan Rajat in a quarter-final match.