From Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif
GLASGOW, Aug 2 (Bernama) -- Who would have imagined that a storybook would become the first sign of Amir Daniel Abdul Majeed’s extraordinary determination, long before the athlete made history as Malaysia’s first Commonwealth Games judo gold medallist?
At the age of four, Amir Daniel, who had a habit of sucking his thumb, immediately gave it up after his mother, Yeoh Suatkhim, promised to buy him the storybook he wanted if he succeeded.
“He has always had incredible determination. If he wants to do something, he will do it. I still remember when he was four years old and loved sucking his thumb. I tried all sorts of ways to make him stop.
“When he wanted to buy a storybook, I told him he could have it if he stopped sucking his thumb. The very next day, he quit completely, just for a storybook. Not every child can do that,” she told Bernama.
According to Yeoh, Amir Daniel’s perseverance and unwavering commitment to achieving what he wanted have remained a defining part of his character into adulthood.
Amir Daniel made history at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games here after winning the men's under-81 kilogramme (kg) gold medal, defeating South Africa's Timothy Meuwsen in the final at the Scottish Event Campus yesterday with a waza-ari scored through a kata-guruma technique.
The feat saw the 21-year-old Penang-born athlete deliver Malaysia's eighth gold medal of the Games, while also becoming the country's first judoka to win Commonwealth Games gold.
At the Birmingham 2022 edition, Amir Daniel won the bronze medal in the men's under-73kg category.
The triumph marked the culmination of Amir Daniel's long journey in the sport after he was introduced to judo at the age of five under the guidance of national coach Md Nashriq Md Nassir, who continues to coach him today.
Yeoh, who witnessed her son's historic victory in person, said Md Nashriq had not only been instrumental in developing Amir Daniel's abilities on the mat, but had also become a trusted figure for the family in shaping his discipline, education and personal development.
She said that whenever Amir Daniel had to sit for important examinations, she would discuss the matter with Md Nashriq, who would then make a kind of "agreement" with him to ensure that his studies were not neglected.
“Once he makes a promise to his coach, he never breaks it. I am truly grateful to his coach. If not for him, Amir might not be here today,” she said.
Yeoh believes children should be exposed to sports and learning from a young age to keep them engaged in meaningful activities while gaining new experiences.
She adopted the same approach with her eldest child, Nur Yasmeen, before Amir Daniel, the younger of her two children, decided to pursue judo seriously.
Yeoh hopes her son's historic success in Glasgow will serve as a springboard for him to realise even bigger ambitions, including competing at the Olympic Games.
“We have always hoped he would create history for Malaysia. He wants to go to the Olympics. Hopefully one day he will reach that level, while at the same time not neglecting his studies and continuing to help his fellow judokas,” she said.
-- BERNAMA