Sukma-bound archer Qistina all fired up for ‘event of her life’

SIBU (July 10): Sukma-bound archer Illyka Qistina Aqill Haslmi has not set a medal target for the competition in August. However, she is in high spirits as she prepares for ‘the biggest event of her life.’

“I will train hard and, hopefully, contribute my part to help the state win something in archery,” said the 17-year-old student of SMK Sibu Jaya.

Qistina recently emerged champion in the 70m event for Girl’s Under-18 at the Sibu Division Inter-School Archery Championships.

She will be heading to the inaugural Sabah International Open Archery Championships from July 8-13.

The Sabah tournament has attracted 430 competitors from Malaysia, Taiwan and Indonesia.

It’s her international debut  but she said she’s not intimidated.

“Hopefully, I can gain some experience from the Sabah Championships and learn on how to improve,” the shy athlete who belongs to the Falcon Archery Club here at Permai Housing Estate.

After the Sabah exposure, she will proceed to Kuching to join the rest of the Sarawak Sukma team for centralised training.

Qistina is the second archer from the club to represent Sarawak in Sukma.

Club senior Amy Wong competed in the 2022 Sukma and returned with a gold medal in women’s recurve event.

Club coach Tiong Hung Sing is confident Qistina has the potential to win a Sukma gold medal based on the protege’s tremendous diligence during training.

Meanwhile, nine athletes from Falcon Archery Club will represent Sibu at the Inter-Division Schools Archery Championships to be held in Sematan from July 13-19.

They are Ibis Ling Ngie Jia, Annabelle Chung, Anxon Ting, Jayden Chai, Darren Ling, Eileen Wong, Katie Yap, Jerry Chiong and Angel Ting.