Nurul, Chrystal Hope To End Career On High Note

THE Korat SEA Games will be the swansong for senior gymnasts Nurul Fatiha Abdul Hamid and Chrystal Lim. And both will be on different missions in their bids to end their careers on a high note.

Nurul's dream is to see the emergence of new stars in the national women's artistic gymnastics team to continue her legacy when she quits competitions after the Games in Korat.

The petite Nurul, who will be making her fourth appearance in the biennial Games, has never failed to contribute a gold medal since she made her debut in 2001 in Kuala Lumpur. And she hopes that the golden glitter for her will continue in Korat.

The lack of new stars in the national team was evident in the last Games in Manila in 2005 and Nurul emerged as the sole Malaysian gold medallist in women's artistic gymnastics.

“This will be my last SEA Games and I want to end it on a high note. My goal is to win a gold in the uneven bars,” said the 21-year-old Nurul.

Strike a pose: Rhythmic gymnasts (from left) Jaime Lee, Wan Siti Haniza Wan Izahar, Chrystal Lim and Foong Seow Ting (front) stretch during a training session.

“But more than that, I would like to see my junior team-mates do well. I will motivate them to challenge for gold medals. It will be great to end my career knowing that there are gymnasts ready to take over from me.”

The others in the team are Nabihah Ali, Tracie Ang, Noor Hasleen Fatihin and Chan Sau Wah and Games rookie Loh Hui Xin.

“Although I was bugged by injuries occasionally, I have had a great journey as a national gymnast over the last six years. I am now injury-free and I hope to give a strong performance in Korat,” added Nurul.

In rhythmic gymnastics, the 20-year-old Chrystal will be out to end an individual title drought in her third SEA Games.

“This will be my last SEA Games. I want to further my studies in graphic designing. Hopefully, this Games will turn out to be the best-ever for me,” she said.

"It will be great to end my career knowing that there are gymnasts ready to take over from me" NURUL FATIHA ABDUL HAMID

The others in the team are Foong Seow Ting, Jaime Lee and Wan Siti Haniza Wan Izahar.

Chrystal made her debut at the Hanoi SEA Games. Then the star of the competition was Durratun Nashihin Rosli, who won five gold medals. At the 2005 Manila Games, Seow Ting stole the thunder with four gold medals.

“I have only won the team gold medal in the previous two Games. My best in the individual effort was a silver medal in the ribbon event. It will be a perfect parting gift if I can land a gold this time,” said Chrystal.

Despite the absence of Durratun, who quit the sport in September, Malaysia are looking good to emerge as the rhythmic overall champions for the third consecutive time.

Said Russian coach Lidia Legotina: “I think our team can win all the six gold medals. But we cannot discount the challenge from hosts Thailand.”