PETALING JAYA: Time away from tournaments has given national artistic gymnast Hannah Yasmeen Mazwan a fresh perspective and renewed hunger to perform again.
What began as a difficult break soon became the reset she needed to recharge and return stronger than before.
Hannah’s last competitive appearance was at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) last August, where she captured gold in the team event and silver in uneven bars.
“Honestly, it feels kind of weird and I miss the adrenaline,” said the 16-year-old Hannah.
“It made me realise how much I love competing, and I can’t wait to get back out there again.”
The absence from competitions was not easy at first.
Watching her teammates compete as she stayed behind was a test of patience and perseverance.
“At first, it was tough. I really missed competing and the atmosphere,” said Hannah.
“Some of my teammates had the opportunity to compete but not me.
“Maybe I just wasn’t mentally and physically ready enough back then.
“After a while, I realised the break was what I needed to recharge and come back even more motivated.”
With her next competition expected to be the National Championships in December, Hannah is determined to make the most of her time in training to refine her routines and rebuild her mental and physical strength.
“I’ve been focusing on training ahead of the national meet and improving, so I hope I’ll be ready when the time comes,” added Hannah. — By NG CHIA YIN
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