IT WAS a painful setback for Penang, but Silat coach Shuhairi Chin is refusing to let disappointment define the team’s campaign, vowing to come back stronger in the remaining events of the Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2026 in Selangor.
Penang athlete Nurul Nabila Natasya fell 3-21 to Federal Territories’ Noor Wafadina in the Women’s 50-55kg Class B final at Dewan Seri Sarjana, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) earlier today.
The defeat was a bitter blow for the Penang camp, with Nabila regarded as one of the state’s key medal hopes.
Shuhairi, 41, admitted that the result was below expectations, but said the team must quickly put the disappointment behind them and focus on the opportunities still ahead.
“For me, this result is not very encouraging for our team because she was one of our main medal targets, apart from the other two athletes,” he said.
He believed several mistakes during the bout, coupled with lapses in focus and the pressure of the competition, affected Nabila’s performance.
“Unfortunately, there were several mistakes made by our athlete, and there may also have been some distractions that affected her focus,” he said.
“When we looked at the points, perhaps the pressure got to the athlete. She was unable to perform at the level she had shown in previous competitions.”
However, Shuhairi stressed that there was no time to dwell on the defeat, urging his athletes to learn from the experience and remain focused on the next challenge.
“It is okay. We have to move on and focus on the other two athletes for the next event,” he said.
While the result may have fallen short of Penang’s hopes, Shuhairi believes the setback can serve as valuable motivation for the team.
The loss may have closed one chapter, but the Penang silat camp is not ready to surrender.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Muhammad Iqbal Hamdan