JELEBU: A mother of five is among the eight finalists from Negri Sembilan, who will be competing in the second phase selection of the All Women’s Expedition to Antartica (AWETA) 2018 which will is currently ongoing in Shah Alam, Selangor.
Najatulhaya Razali, 46, said age and her status as a wife and a mother, hasn’t deterred her spirit to try in this year’s AWETA, a brainchild programme by famed Malaysian female explorer, Dr Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir.
“Right from the start, I knew that the selection phase alone wouldn’t be easy. I needed to be mentally and physically prepared,” she said.
“To prepare for the challenges, I did a lot of hiking, jogging and other physical activities so keep myself fit. I am proud to have made it through to the second phase after the first phase at the Paroi Youth and Sports complex in Dec last year,” she said.
Najatulhaya added a total of five series of fitness tests were conducted during the first selection process.
“There were around 40 participants who took part but only eight were chosen for the next round of selection. I am proud that I made it and hopefully that I will be able to pass all selection process,” she said when met at Bukti Batu Sawa Kampung Pergai here yesterday, after her hiking session.
Najatulhaya said, she hopes that she will be able to carry the Negri Sembilan flag in AWETA.
"The challenges will be greater in the next selection process. But I believe that with enough training, rest and good nutrition intake, I will be able to make it through to the next round,” she said.
The expedition, which is expected to be held on Nov this year, is open to all eligible Malaysian women above the age of 18 and will be led by Sharifah, who conquered the South Pole in 2004.
The key missions in the South Pole will include unearthing the time capsule planted by Sharifah during her expedition 13 years ago and to plant a new TN50 aspiration for Malaysian women.