SHAH ALAM, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- After starting taekwondo four years ago, Selangor athlete Nur Aina Qistina proved that her short stint in the sport was not a barrier to success when she won a gold medal on her debut at the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) today.
In the action held at Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC), the 16-year-old athlete contributed gold to the host state after defeating Negeri Sembilan representative, Mariem Adlydelisha Afea Mohamad Adam 2-0 in the women's under-46 kilogramme (kg) kyorugi event.
Nur Aina said the success was quite gratifying after all the efforts and commitment she had put in since she started learning taekwondo at the age of 12 finally bore fruit at the biennial sports games.
"It's true that even though I was late (joining taekwondo), I followed my own efforts. If I am committed to training, there might be more achievements.
"For today's match, I feel like I've improved because I fought until the end. I'm very happy because this is my first SUKMA and I got gold," she said when met by reporters after the match here today.
Meanwhile, Federal Territory representative Loi Kai Hek won the gold medal in the 54 kg men's category after beating Johor representative Faiq Muqhri Syahkir Fauzam 2-0.
In the women's 49 kg category, the gold went to Halimah As-Sa'adiyyah Nasir-tsafe of Terengganu who beat host representative S. Jovina Varrsha 2-0.
Meanwhile, in the 58 kg men's category, Kelantan representative Wan Alim Husam Wan Lukman won gold after defeating Aidil Hakimi from Terengganu 2-1.
-- BERNAMA