AIMING TO IMPROVE

Archer Syahidah and shooter Chan bow out, but will learn from the experience

- David Lee

Singapore's world No. 2 archer Syahidah Alim was off to a red-hot start at the Paralympics on Aug 30, scoring two maximum 10s in the individual compound open round-of-32 match against Australia's Ameera Lee.

But as the rain started to fall, the weather appeared to dampen her accuracy.

A wayward 5 to start the second end each archer shoots five ends of three arrows - ultimately proved costly. While Syahidah was still leading 80-79 after three ends, Lee stepped up with a perfect fourth end to take control for a 135-133 win.

"That's the beauty of the sport it's anyone's game," said the 39-year-old, who was born with diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy marked by stiff lower limbs and difficulty walking or standing for extended periods of time.

"It's definitely disappointing not being able to advance further, but I'm proud of the efforts I put in my shooting. I was pleased with the strong start, but that 5 in the second end was definitely a setback.

That shot shook my confidence for a while, and I had to work hard to regain my composure for the rest of the round.

"I tried to focus on each shot and not dwell on that bad shot, even though it was challenging. The rain added an extra layer of difficulty to the competition. It got a lot colder, making it challenging to maintain consistency and mental focus with my shots."