Sukma kayak 'queen' Shahida Asyiqin retires at 18

KUALA TERENGGANU: Malaysia Games ((Sukma) 2022 kayak 'queen' Shahida Asyiqin Rusli has decided to retire at the age of 18 despite a promising future.

Although she has a good opportunity to participate in the 2023 SEA Games, the Kuala Terengganu-born athlete said she was giving up the sport to concentrate on her studies.

She said her decision was not influenced by any parties, including her parents who have always encouraged her in her sports career.

Shahida Asyiqin is awaiting an offer from an institute of higher learning to pursue a course in sports science, as this has been her ambition.

"I do not deny that there is also a sense of loss but my decision is final ... I have decided to retire.

"My family advised me to continue participating (in sports), but I do not want to because I want to focus fully on my studies. So they have accepted my decision," she said when met here last night.

However, Shahida Asyiqin said she might consider competing in sports at the university level.

"I really aspire to further my studies at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris but have not received any updates on this until now," she said.

Shahida Asyiqin won four gold, three silver and six bronze medals at Sukma 2022 in Kuala Lumpur.

She also broke three national records in the women's kayak single 100 metres, kayak single 500m and kayak four 100m.

For her achievements, she has been awarded RM33,500 by the Terengganu government.

-- BERNAMA