(Photo credit: Singapore Disability Sports Council)
Ten years after her gold medal at the 2014 Montreal Boccia World Open, Nurulasyiqah Mohd Taha once again claimed the top podium spot at an international competition – this time at the Pajulahti World Boccia Challenger 2024 held in Finland from 9 to 17 May 2024.
After a 10-1 win against Saudi Arabia’s Lujain Althaqfi and 7-1 win against Denmark’s Tanija Madsen, Nurulasyiqah earned a BYE in the third round to enter the semi-finals. She won 5-3 against Italy’s Giulia Marchisio, before taking 6-2 against Germany’s Nancy Poser to seal her gold medal win in the BC3 Female Individuals event.
This was a sweet victory marking her 20th year in boccia, but also a fresh start for Nurulasyiqah who only returned to the international scene in late 2023, after close to 3 years’ break from the international circuit due to COVID-19 measures.
This win is especially significant as it marks Nurulasyiqah’s 20th year in boccia and her return to the international scene in late 2023 after nearly three years away due to COVID-19 restrictions. Despite a scare early in the competition when her motorised wheelchair’s battery charger malfunctioned, compatriot and fellow competitor in the BC3 female individuals event Toh Sze Ning lent her a replacement, allowing Nurulasyiqah to continue her competition.
Nurul shared, “I’m so grateful for the people who have patiently stood and stuck by me, especially during my “gap” years of 2020-2023. A new chapter is being written and I’m only looking forward. Thank you, Sze Ning, for extending to me a “lifeline”!”
While Toh did not podium in the BC3 Female Individuals event, she and Aloysius Gan Kai Hong dominated in the BC3 Mixed Pairs event. They won 7-1 against Finland, received a bye in Round 2, and triumphed 8-0 against Saudi Arabia. In the semi-finals, they beat Germany 6-2 and clinched the gold with a convincing 9-0 win against Italy.
This achievement adds to Team Singapore’s remarkable success in boccia this month, following Jeralyn Tan Yee Ting’s gold in the BC1 Female Individual event at the 2024 Montreal World Boccia Cup on May 6.
Ms. Kelly Fan, Executive Director of the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC), commented, “These wins are tremendous confidence boosts for our boccia team, who have trained very hard despite the sport’s limited accessibility in Singapore and our coaches being non-full-time. This success wouldn’t be possible without the support of our partners, Sport Singapore and Haw Par Corporation, as well as our dedicated volunteers and community.”
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