Women athletes continue to reach pinnacle despite various challenges

Tahira Najmunissa Muhammad Zaid. Photo: We Are Cyclist fb
08/03/2023 08:00 PM

By Farah Najihah Zuraimi

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Bernama) -- It is undeniable that national women athletes, who have steadily shown improved performances on the international stage in the past few years, have played their part in bringing success to the country.

One of them is national duathlete Tahira Najmunissa Muhammad Zaid, who has never let her hectic schedule of managing her family and raising four children, aged five to 13, be a hindrance as she continues to be active in duathlon (comprising running and cycling).

Dubbed the “iron woman”, Tahira Najmunissa always seeks to strike a balance between family and career in her quest to give her best in whatever she does.

“Each day is a difficult struggle for me as I need to be wise in dividing my time and multitasking. However, I am grateful that I have a family who has loyally supported me throughout my journey in this extreme sport,” the 33-year-old told Bernama in conjunction with the International Women's Day celebration today.

 As for her best moment in sports, she said it was when she came in second in last year’s Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) just a week after her youngest child, Sharifah Daniaa Abdul Rahman had undergone surgery for a hole in the heart.

She also did not expect to win the women’s duathlon silver medal at the 2022 SEA Games as she was far from being in peak condition, especially as she had to travel to and from the National Heart Institute (IJN) daily to ensure her daughter was comfortable and safe.

“When my child was admitted to the IJN, I could not stop crying as I was very worried about her second surgery. She had undergone an operation when she was eight months old. But her determination to fight is what gave me the strength and courage to go on and win silver for the country,” she said. 

Meanwhile, national pole vaulter Nor Sarah Adi is relieved that the difficulty she endured in having to commute to training without her own transport at one time paid off when she managed to make the country proud on the international stage.

Winner of the gold medal at the SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, feels that living in Kuala Lumpur has made her tougher and more independent as she continues to seek glory for the country despite being away from her family in Jengka, Pahang.

“I have been undergoing training at the National Sports Council (NSC) since 2018. But at that time, I never received any allowances or was given any accommodation. I had to use the Light Rail Transit (LRT) service to get from my aunt’s house in Puchong to the NSC in Bukit Jalil daily.

“Alhamdullilah, I was roped into the Podium Programme last year and I am thankful that I went through such difficulties because they made me the tough person that I am now,” said the 22-year-old.

Nor Sarah is determined that, as long as she has the strength, she would continue to contribute to the country although her dream is to be a journalist as she is now in her sixth semester in the field of broadcast communication at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

National archer Syaqiera Mashayikh, meanwhile, is also proud to have represented Malaysia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics although she failed to bring home a medal.

The 23-year-old, who is now undergoing full-time training at the NSC in Nilai, is aware that it is every athlete's dream to compete in the Olympics and, as such, is grateful that she managed to do just that.

“I am happy and proud that my women athletes are raising their game and hopefully more women athletes will continue to contribute their talents to the country,” she said.  

-- BERNAMA