Future doctor Aina hits target to capture maiden Sukma title

Subang: The tears of joy witnessed by Nur Aina Natasya Anderson after clinching the women's 10m air rifle champion title at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) marked a bittersweet end to her shooting career as she transitions to becoming a doctor. The 19-year-old secured gold by scoring 244.8 points, narrowly beating Pahang's Nur Auni Arissa Azaha by a mere 0.6 points. Auni claimed silver with 244.2 points, while Perak's Nor Alya Aqila Mahathir bagged bronze with 223.4 points.

Aina's triumph held deep significance for her, as she had been waiting four years to have her chance at winning Sukma gold. She expressed her disbelief at the victory, stating, "I still cannot believe that I won a medal, especially gold. I really did not expect it because the competition was very intense." Tears of happiness streamed down her face as she reflected on her hard work and training, which began at the age of 15.

At the previous Sukma in Sarawak, Aina had only secured a bronze in the team event after failing to reach the individual final due to an insufficient qualifying score. This time around, however, she demonstrated remarkable resilience by maintaining composure during the tense contest and overcoming formidable opponents from Pahang, Perak, and Negri Sembilan.

The support from Sabah fans played a crucial role in Aina's mental fortitude during the decisive moments, as she attributed her improved performance to the motivation provided by the fans' singing. She closed her eyes to everything occurring behind her and followed the rhythm of the fans' singing to boost her spirits. When she heard the Sabah song, her spirit grew stronger, enabling her to shoot more effectively.

Aina emphasized that this final Sukma will be her last, as she prepares to embark on her medical studies at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in September. Her dream of becoming a doctor remains unwavering, and she will continue competing in the mixed team and 50m prone events at the Games.