Fatin can still take a bow after settling for two silvers

PETALING JAYA: Compound archer Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh had to settle for two silver medals on the last day of the Asia Cup in Bangkok, Thailand.

Fatin and Juwaidi Mazuki failed to retain the mixed team compound title for Malaysia after they were edged 156-158 (40-39, 39-38, 39-40, 40-39) by India’s top seeds Chikitha Taniparthi-Rajat Chauhan in the final.

Fatin partnered Alang Aqil Arif Mohd Ghazalli to take gold in the mixed team compound event last year.

And Fatin paid a costly price for failing to land a perfect score of 30 in the opening set of the women’s individual compound final as she also settled for a runner-up finish behind Independent Neutral Athlete (AIN) representative Arina Cherkezova.

Fatin conceded a narrow 144-145 defeat to the 2019 world junior champion and top seeded rival after a five-set battle (27-30, 29-28, 30-30, 28-30, 29-28).

Despite this, it was still a very rewarding week for the 34-year-old archer.

She will return home with a total of three medals, having also won a bronze in the team compound event earlier in the week with Ng Sui Kim and Aina Syazwana Abdul Muhaimin.

“I did not regret giving my all. I did not expect to make two final appearances here, so I’m still satisfied to be on the podium three times.

“I also managed to break two national records (in the team compound and individual qualifying), so I’m happy with my performance here,” said Fatin, who is from Kota Kinabalu.

Fatin, Sui Kim and Aina shot 2,075 points to improve on the previous record of 2,068 in the team compound.

Fatin also equalled her national record of 702 points in qualification rounds, which she previously set at the World Cup in Paris in 2023.

Joey Tan missed out on her first Asia Cup podium after she went down 2-6 to China’s Liu Xin in the match to decide the bronze for the women’s individual recurve event.

National team newcomer Evan Rich Chong also came up short in the men’s individual recurve bronze medal match, losing 5-6 to AIN’s Batuev Kirill.