It’s a golden farewell for hammer thrower Siti Shahida

SITI Shahida Abdullah signed off by defending her women’s hammer gold medal at His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium yesterday.

Despite not being at her best form, Siti’s sixth and final throw of 52.93m was good enough for victory.

She was initially worried after opening with a foul throw and registering dismal 47.56m and 47.61m marks in her subsequent attempts.

Indonesians Rose Inggriana (50.79m) won the silver and Yurita Arsyad (49.99m) took the bronze.

Proud: Siti Shahida Abdullah proudly displays the Malaysian flag after winning the hammer gold medal Monday.

The Kuantan-born Siti, who teaches sports science at the Bukit Jalil Sports School, admitted that she had suffered a drastic drop in form heading into the Games.

“I was worried about my form because my recent results had been less than encouraging. But everything worked out well today and I am thankful to have retained the title,” she said.

“I will be getting married soon and I guess it’s time for me to quit. I feel happy to be leaving on a winning note.”

The 26-year-old Siti still holds the Games record of 53.35m, her winning mark in Manila in 2005.

The other Malaysian in the event, Tan Song Hwa, was fifth (49.33m).

Malaysia could only settle for a bronze in the men’s long jump. The 2003 Vietnam Games champion Syahrul Amri Suhaimi posted 7.48m to secure a place on the podium.

The much-touted Josbert Tinus failed to reproduce his best form and was placed fifth with a distance of 7.45m.

Filipino Henry Dagmil successfully defended the title with a Games record mark of 7.87m and Thai Keeratikorn Janmanee secured the silver on 7.75m.

Malaysia finished empty-handed in the men’s pole vault. Debutant Mohd Hafizudin Sahadan was joint fifth with a height of 4.20m. His effort was way off the winning mark of 5.10m posted by Thailand’s Sompong Saombankuay.

Star