Eyes on bullseye

Elusive medal: Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh holds the national mark with 704 points out of 720 at the 2023 Paris World Cup.

IT IS hard to believe that seasoned national archer Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh has yet to get an Asian Games medal.

The five-time SEA Games gold medallist came close at the last edition in Hangzhou 2023 but was knocked out in the quarter-finals of the compound mixed team event.

However, the 35-year-old expects the Aichi-Nagoya Games to be her strongest chance to add that elusive prize to her collection.

“There’s no distraction this time. It was tough to balance my academics with archery but I’m done with studying now,” said Fatin, who completed her doctorate (PhD) in Sports Science at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) this year. “I want to get a medal – doesn’t matter what colour. As long as I get a podium, I’m happy.”

Fatin stated that her foray into archery was strongly influenced by her love of the King of Thieves – Robin Hood.

“I was 10-years-old and my mum asked if I wanted to be Robin Hood. I immediately jumped at the chance,” she said.

In her journey to emulate the green-hooded icon, she has broken records – Fatin holds the national mark with 704 points out of 720 after 72 shots at the 2023 Paris World Cup en route to becoming a world champion and also won wgold in the women’s team event at the 2015 Shanghai World Cup.

Yet the Asiad has been her kryptonite.

The world No. 25, who won silver at the Madrid World Cup in July, will be relying on her current form and training in South Korea to help in her medal quest in Japan.

“Training (in South Korea) has helped me get used to shooting arrows in colder weather since Japan will be similar.”

Although an Asiad medal remains a priority, she also hopes to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

“Every archer dreams of being an Olympian, and it’s the same for me. Previously, they didn’t have my event – compound – but it has been added for 2028. It’ll be tough but that dream can be realized soon too.”

Fatin will shoot her first arrow for the Asiad on Sept 26 in the women’s compound individual event.