WITH fingers crossed, Musayyar Khalid was looking on anxiously at the scores before the Federal Territories (FT) bowlers rolled their last ball during the Malaysia Games (Sukma) mixed doubles event.
It was only after Mohd Hazim Alhanafiah and Najwa Nazirah Mohd Amir had completed their games that the 21-year-old Sarawakian let out a huge sigh of relief.
Musayyar was all smiles as he and Nur Aina Kamalia Abdul Ayub had won the mixed pair gold with a score of 2,452 pins at the Sunway Megalanes in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
Hazim and Najwa took silver for FT with 2,421 pins while Musayyar’s teammates Abang Afiq Yazid Abang Azman and Nur Hazirah Ramli won bronze with 2,395 pins.
Musayyar, who hails from Miri, was relieved to have won after narrowly missing out on the trios gold by six pins.
Penang’s Megat Zaqrul Haiqal Megat Zairudin, Muhd Hariz Azman and Muhd Shafiy Zaim won the title with 3,671 while Federal Territories’ Matthew Ong, Ahmad Azriq Izamudin and Muhd Hazim Alihanafiah took silver with 3667. Musayyar, together with Abner Lol and Afiq, settled for bronze (3,665).
“That disappointment spurred me to do my best in the mixed. I just told myself this is the best moment to bounce back from the disappointment,” he said.
“True enough, we did well. I have to thank Nur Aina because she pushed me to fight till the end. When we completed our games, I felt the score was not strong enough, but she told me we could win.
“I will be honest, I felt kan-cheong (Cantonese for nervous).”
Musayyar revealed that he also partnered Nur Aina when Sarawak held the Games in 2016 but failed to win a medal, so winning the gold in his last Sukma with Nur Aina was extra sweet.
He is hopeful that his outing in this year’s Sukma will garner the attention of the national selectors.
“It is a dream to be part of the national team. I will continue to push myself and hopefully be part of the Malaysian team.”