Sukma 2024: Dayang Nurulnuhaa ends 8-year gold drought for Sarawak in petanque

KUCHING (Aug 18): Dayang Nurulnuhaa Fasihah Abang Misbahhuddin shattered an eight-year gold medal drought for Sarawak in petanque at the 2024 Malaysia Games (Sukma) in the women’s shooting event today.

At the Sarawak State Petanque Court, the 18-year-old faced a fierce challenge from Federal Territories’ Nur Arissa Qasreena Ratinan, with both players neck-and-neck in the first two disciplines.

However, Dayang Nurulnuhaa’s precision in the third and fifth disciplines got her over the line, and the win, with a close score of 29-27, delivering Sarawak’s first gold in petanque since 2016.

“We didn’t actually expect to win gold in the women’s shooting event as we had our sights set on other categories.

“This is Sarawak’s first gold in petanque since the 2016 Games when we won in the triples event. It’s truly a remarkable achievement,” Sarawak petanque coach Mohamad Ahir Binar said.

In the bronze medal match, Johor’s Norissyakila Mohamed Sani defeated Sarawak’s Fatin Raifana Abdul Rahman with a score of 29-6.

In the men’s shooting event, meanwhile, Melaka’s Khairul Amirul Zamrulhisham redeemed himself by winning gold with a 37-28 victory over Selangor’s Ayzek Hakimi Safingan, overturning his silver medal finish from the previous Sukma.

“I won silver in the KL (2022 edition) against the same opponent, but I managed to secure the gold this time. This gold is especially significant for me as it’s my final Sukma,” Khairul Amirul, who has represented Malaysia before, said.

The bronze medal went to Pahang’s Muhammad Harith Muhaimin Hafaizul. – Bernama