EVERY athlete has their own strategy as they seek success at the international level and it is no different for national lawn bowls queen Nor Farah Ain Abdullah, who relies on a quick power nap to recharge her batteries before taking on her rivals.
Nor Farah, who emerged as world champion last year, admits that catching 40 winks is one of the ways she maintains her focus and re-energises herself during tournaments.
“Most athletes will avoid taking a nap before competing, but I will take a 15-minute nap to re-energise. When I wake up, I feel fresher, ready to stretch and be in battle mode,” she said recently.
Nor Farah got into this routine by accident when she fell asleep due to fatigue when competing in the 2022 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Games (Sukma).
To her surprise, that short nap proved refreshing and helped her focus better during the competition and, since then, she has made sure to take her power nap before each game.
“I can sleep anywhere, be it on a chair or in the changing room. I only need to close my face with a towel or something and I’ll be asleep for about 15 minutes,” said the youngest of six siblings.
Nor Farah said that national head coach Zuraidi Puteh is aware of her routine but he does not stop her as he believes in the saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
This practice of taking power naps is not something new in the world of sports as even British snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan and Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt have both attested to the benefits of catching a quick nap before competitions, citing improved focus and energy.
Scientific studies in sports also showed that taking a short nap before any physical activity helps improve reaction time, mental clarity and physical endurance.
Nor Farah shot to fame when she won gold in the women’s event at the 2024 World Indoor Lawn Bowls Championships in Guernsey, Channel Islands, in April.
The 24-year-old also helped the national squad win bronze in the mixed pairs event with Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple, who also contributed a silver medal in the men’s singles event.
Last month, the Kuala Selangor-born athlete continued to make Malaysia proud when she created history by moving up the ranks to become the world’s number one player.
Nor Farah topped the ranking with 723 points, well ahead of Scotland’s Julie Forest in second place with 683 points while Australia’s Kelsey Cottrell is third with 676 points.
Nor Farah is now preparing to defend her title at the 2025 World Indoor Lawn Bowls Championships in Aberdeen, Scotland, from April 20-25. — Bernama
