KUALA TERENGGANU: It’s back to school before she takes on the world for record-breaking archer Nur Aqilah Yusof.
Aqilah, 17, made known her wishes to excel in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examinations later this year to cap her fine run at the just concluded Malaysia Games, where she bagged three gold and two bronze medals.
“Education is just as important for me and though I love archery, I do not want to compromise on it.
“With the Games behind me, I now want to concentrate on my studies so that I can seek a sound education and brighten my career prospects,” said Aqilah, a Fifth Former at SM Kompleks Mengabong Telipot.
The bubbly archer arrived on home soil close to midnight at the Sultan Mahmud Airport, after two delayed flights, to a rousing welcome by over 100 familiy members, schoolmates, teachers and friends.
Aqilah said she was honoured to be able to bring glory to Terengganu and thanked her coaches and family for the tremendous support at the Games in Sarawak.
“Although I had aimed to win just one gold, I did not expect to bag three, let alone break a national record, and emerge as the best female athlete at the games.
“My family, especially my father, fully inspired me to go for the gold.
“This award will definitely spur me on to seek further success,” said Aqilah.
She said she would take a break from competition to concentrate on her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examinations later this year, before resuming her quest for greater glory.
At the Malaysia Games, Aqilah nailed 331 points to shatter the national women's 70m recurve archery record set at the Vietnam Sea Games in Hanoi by Malaysian Olympian archer Mon Redee Tixit, from Kedah, who had achieved the feat 13 years ago with a score of 328 points.
Aqilah also won two more gold in the 60m recurve and Olympic round team event. She bagged a bronze medal each for 30m recurve and Olympic round individual event.