SEA Games: Singapore's Sheik Farhan continues dad’s proud gold-medal winning tradition

KUALA LUMPUR — There were no tears, nor wild celebrations, as Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau’ddin strode off the competition mat at the Juara Stadium as the newly-crowned SEA Games champion in the men’s tanding class J (90 – 95kg).

Just metres away, however, his father Sheik Alau’ddin was bent over a railing, sobbing as he watched his son – the fourth among his brood of six – claim the first gold for the 20-strong silat contingent at the Games. Farhan’s achievement was also a first SEA Games gold for Singapore’s most famous silat family after Sheik’s four titles at the regional Games.

Up against Malaysian favourite Mohd Khaizuk Yaacob in the final, double world champion Farhan, who had won a joint bronze in the tanding class H two years ago, was in a class of his own, outwitting and outlasting his rival with his powerful punches and scissor kicks to claim a decisive 5-0 win.

Cool and collected, the teenager remained composed even while ‘Majulah Singapura’ was played at the victory ceremony.  Keeping a cool head had clearly worked among a crowd of loud, vocal Malaysian supporters, as he said: “I’m usually very calm and very quiet and that helps me to forget my nervousness and not feel any pressure.”

While Farhan confessed that he was “crying inside”, he added: “It feels like winning my first world championship. This medal means a lot to me…it’s even sweeter that I’m the first one to win it, but I feel a bit upset because I wanted more of my teammates to win.”

Farhan also paid tribute to his father, Sheik, who also won two world titles during his illustrious career as a national athlete.

“He doesn’t get so teary so often, I think I will only understand that feeling if I have a kid so I’m just happy,” he said. “After I won, I went up to him, we hugged and he said I love you and thank you for the gold medal.”

Nurzuhairah Mohammad Yazid added a second gold for Team Singapore on Tuesday night (Aug 29) after clinching the women’s artistic singles title. The 19-year-old Games debutant, who credited the sport for helping her stand up to her childhood bully, was delighted to win her first SEA Games gold. She said: “I’m very happy and  very grateful that all my hard work had paid off. I want to dedicate this gold medal to my parents who supported my throughout my journey, my siblings and my teammates.”

While delighted with Farhan’s and Nurzuhairah’s achievements, Sheik, who is also chief executive officer and head coach of the Singapore Silat Federation, was distraught to see the athletes miss out on their five-gold target. World champion Shakir Juanda and 2015 gold medallist (class F) Nur Alfian Juma’en were beaten in their respective finals in the men’s tanding class I and G, losing their bouts to Vietnam’s Nguyen Van Tri (5-0) and Nguyen Duy Tuyen (5-0).

The SEA Games silat competition had been hit by accusations of unfair judging and scoring by Indonesia and Singapore, and Sheik said on Tuesday: “Those were tears of joy and sadness. I’m happy because Farhan won, but I’m upset because two of my strong fighters lost.

“I’m angry with the situation, and very sad for my athletes because they worked very hard.”

Despite their initial five-gold target, Team Singapore’s silat exponents ended their campaign at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games with two gold, four silver and six bronze medals. At the last Games held in Singapore, the Republic’s athletes won one gold, a silver and six bronze medals.