MUM IS BEHIND SYAFIRA'S VICTORY

Parent's presence helps Hougang student win to deny Nanyang sweep of C girls' titles

- Bebekah Chia

The night before her National School Games (NSG) C Division judo final, Nur Syafira Shaharudin could barely sleep. The Hougang Secondary School student was understandably nervous ahead of the Under-45kg title bout on July 18, as her opponent, Chen Siyan, is from judo powerhouses Nanyang Girls' High School.

But, with encouragement from her coach Lin Yu Sheng and her mum Indie Yati, Syafira rose to the occasion at the OCBC Arena by defeating Siyan with a left large hip throw and a back hip sweep for two half-points.

While Syafira was tired owing to a lack of sleep, her adrenaline rush after stepping on the mat kept her focused. In the process, the Secondary 2 student also prevented a C girls clean sweep by Nanyang.