(Clockwise
from left) National coach Lee Jae Hyung, Khairul Anuar Mohamad with
Cheng Chu Sian at the London Olympics in June, Nurul Syafiqah Hashim
(second from right) with her 2011 Sea Games teammates and Haziq
Kamaruddin.
SUCCESSORS: Emergence of Khairul, Haziq and Syafiqah augurs well for Malaysia as evergreen Chu Sian takes his bow
THE national archers have made great strides over the years but even more remarkable is the young competitors who are emerging from the shadows as the sport undergoes a generation shift.National coach Lee Jae Hyung has unearthed a couple of gems in Khairul Anuar Mohamad and Haziq Kamaruddin to carry Malaysia's challenge at the London Olympics in June.
Following the retirements of Marbawi Sulaiman and A. Anbarasi and the poor form of Wan Khalmizam Wan Abd Aziz, Jae Hyung dug into the deep talent well in Malaysian archery to emerge with three archers few had heard of prior to the Olympics.
Khairul, 21, and Haziq, 19, made an instant impact when making their senior international debut last year and, together with the evergreen Cheng Chu Sian, helped Malaysia earn three quota spots for London.
Nurul Syafiqah Hashim, 18, was a surprise qualifier in the women's event, becoming the first Malaysian woman archer to compete at the Olympics since Mon Redee Sut Txi in 2004.
The three represent the future of Malaysian archery given their youthfulness and the burden will have increased following the sudden retirement of Chu Sian.
The 26-year-old archer has carried the flag for Malaysian archery but the rise of Khairul, who became the highest ranked Malaysian at No 5 in the world before slipping to eighth at the year-end, allowed Chu Sian to hand over the reins to the next generation.
Chu Sian cited his studies as a priority having competed in two Olympic campaigns, won a World Cup individual bronze, a team bronze and two team silver medals and reaching a career high of No 9 in the world.
He bows out ranked 19th but Chu Sian will not be disappearing from the scene completely as he joins Marbawi in becoming a coach with the National Sports Council.
Though his absence will be difficult to fill, it is not impossible.
If South Korean Jae Hyung can develop more talent like Khairul and Haziq, then future for archery is bright.
Already, the National Archery Association of Malaysia have one of the most active junior circuits in the country alongside a national circuit for senior archers.
It is here the future stars of archery will be found to supplement the likes of Khairul, Haziq and Shafiqah.
Jae Hyung has stated he will promote several archers from the back-up squad to the elite team with an eye not just on next year's Sea Games but also the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games in 2014.
At the Olympics, Khairul was Malaysia's best performer when he reached the quarter-finals a year after winning the Asian Championship title and earning silver at the World Cup Stage 4.
He ended the year ranked eighth in the world while Chu Sian claimed his first World Cup individual medal, a bronze, at the opening leg in Shanghai.
Khairul and Syafiqah capped the year on a personal high by taking down two national records held by Chu Sian and Anbarasi respectively.
Khairul eclipsed Chu Sian's single Fita round record of 1,339 by five points while Syafiqah erased Anbarasi's 30-metre record of 348 points by one.
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