WUG 2025: Archery Squad Tested By Cold, Windy Conditions On Opening Day

From Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif

ESSEN (Germany), July 22 (Bernama) -- The national archery squad began their campaign at the 2025 World University Games (WUG) in Rhine-Ruhr under cold and windy conditions as the archery competition got underway today at Sportpark Am Hallo.

Temperatures dipped to 17 degrees Celsius, with strong winds testing the focus and technique of the world’s top university archers competing in the individual ranking round.

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In the women’s compound event, Natasha Mohd Shahruddin emerged as the best-performing Malaysian archer, finishing 28th out of 51 participants with 668 points, followed by Nurul Syaza Husna Mahari in 34th place (653 points) and Nur Nisa Aliya Muhamad Radzif in 41st spot (644 points).

In the women’s compound team event, the Malaysian trio, who amassed 1,965 points, placed ninth out of 12 countries.

“I’m relieved to have made it through the qualification round. It was quite tough because the weather was very cold and windy, but I managed to control my shots better … I’m confident that my teammates and I can perform better next,” said Natasha when met today.

In the men’s recurve event, Muhammad Akid Bazli Ezaidin finished 38th out of 86 archers with 631 points, followed by Mohamad Firdaus Mohd Rusmadi in 49th (621 points) and Muhammad Haziq Khalil in 56th (614 points).

The result placed Malaysia 15th out of 17 countries with a combined score of 1,866 points.

Meanwhile, in the swimming competition held at the Schwimm- und Sprunghalle im Europasportpark in Berlin, Malaysia qualified for the final of the men's 4x200m freestyle relay, scheduled for tonight (early Wednesday Malaysian time).

The national quartet of Khiew Hoe Yean, Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal, Lim Yin Chuen and Tan Khai Xin finished third in heat one with a time of 7 minutes 19.81 seconds, behind the Individual Neutral Athletes (7:16.71s) and Brazil (7:16.90s).

However, Hoe Yean, who also competed in the men’s 200m backstroke, finished last in heat three with a time of 2:03.20s and failed to advance to the semifinals.

In the men’s 50m freestyle, Bryan Leong Xin Ren failed to advance after finishing fourth in heat seven with a time of 23.19s, while Lim Yin Chuen also missed out, placing seventh in heat six (23.53s).

In taekwondo, Muhammad Syafiq Zuber's hopes of winning a medal for Malaysia were dashed after he was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the men’s -87kg kyorugi event at Messe Essen.

The 2023 SEA Games gold medallist lost 0-2 to Michael Christopher Rodriguez of the United States, after earlier victories over Mohammed Alsowaiq of Saudi Arabia and Erol Nuci of Bosnia & Herzegovina in the first two rounds.

As of today, Malaysia, which is targeting seven medals, has won one silver through Hoe Yean in the men’s 400m freestyle event.

-- BERNAMA