The hotshots: From left, 10m pistol gold medallists Nurul Heryani Arfida Ariffin, Nurul Syasya Nadiah Ariffin and Mumtazah Syahiidah Shamsuri. — Bernama
SEA Games champion Nurul Syasya Nadiah Ariffin needed a supporting act to create something spectacular and it came in the form of elder sister Nurul Heryani Arfida as they broke the national record at the National Shooting Range in Subang yesterday.
Johor’s Syasya, Heryani and Mumtazah Syahiidah Shamsuri’s combined score of 1,699 points in the 10m air pistol erased the previous mark also held by Johor.
Syasya, Mumtazah and Kahirun-nabiha Baharin had set the old mark of 1,692 at the Selangor Shooting Championships in March.
Selangor Ong Ee Theng, Dina Batrisyia Adi Azhar and Lee Shu Ji were a distant second with 1,670 while Federal Territories’ Nur Batrisyia Nasuha Nor Hadi, Sarah Aneesa Mazwan and Dania Irdina Zaini were third (1,648).
Syasya, 20, had also equalled her own national mark in the qualifying rounds when she scored 574 and later amassed 235.10 points in the final to clinch the individual gold.
Silver went to Dina Batrisyia (232.00) while Mumtazah clinched bronze with 209.50.
It’s the norm that an elder sibling would provide the guidance but it was Syasya who coaxed her sister to try the sport in 2019. And Heryani, 22, is now a gold medallist in her Sukma debut.
“We did not expect to break the national record. It came as a shock. I’m also very happy that my sister is with me to taste this success,” said Syasya.
“I’m not too disappointed on missing out on the individual record as there are more tournaments after this where I can try to gun down that mark.”
The national record for the final round of 241.2 points is still held by veteran Bibiana Ng in 2017.
Heryani was elated with her Sukma experience.
“This is my first and last Sukma and there were challenges but I am glad that I managed to help Johor in the team success,” said Heryani.
“Syasya used to say ‘if adik can do it, kakak can do it too’ and that was really helpful.”
With four golds, Johor has surpassed their three-gold target.
Syasya’s next mission is the World Championships in Cairo from Oct 12-25 which serves as the Olympic qualifiers where she needs to score closer to 580 confirm a spot for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
