Coach Thahira’s comeback as petanque player pays off

Medal to savour: (from left) Nur Thahira Tasnim, Mohd Muiz Ezham and Sharifah Afiqah Ali posing with their mixed triples silver medals.

SIX years ago, Nur Thahira Tasnim decided to take a break from petanque and turned coach.

But representing her country as a player again was always a tempting proposition.

Thahira decided to join the selection trials for the SEA Games in Cambodia in March and was called up to the team.

The 26-year-old from Rompin, Pahang, had made the right decision. Yesterday, she bagged a silver in the mixed triples event along with Mohd Muiz Ezham and Sharifah Afiqah Ali.

The trio fought hard against Thailand’s Anupong Khamfu, Nattaya Yoothong and Sudarat Thasorn but had to settle for the runners-up spot after going down 6-13 in the final at the Petanque Olympics Complex in Phnom Penh.

Thahira was still satisfied with the result.

“I’m happy winning the silver as I only decided to join the selection trials in March and I only trained with Muiz and Sharifah for a little over a month,” said Thahira.

“I last played in the Games in 2017 in Kuala Lumpur.

‘‘I also played in 2013 in Myanmar and 2015 in Singapore where I won a bronze in the mixed doubles and silver in the women’s triples respectively.

“After the 2017 Games, I decided to take a break and become a coach with the Pahang State Sports Council as I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my late father, Abdul Aziz Dibok and former coach Hafaizul Mat Daud, who both introduced me to petanque when I was 10.

“I’m glad I made the right decision to return and give it a go in this Games.”

With the medal, she is now putting full-time coaching on hold. Instead, she will juggle coaching duties with playing.