Selangor Journal
The Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah (middle) presents the RM15,000 incentive to national athlete Farah Ann Abdul Hadi (right) on January 16, 2020, for bringing home three gold medals at the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines in 2019. — Picture by ASRI SAPFIE/SELANGORKINI

Farah Ann hopeful to resume training soon

SHAH ALAM, May 12 — National gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi says she is hopeful to return back to the training ground — the Gymnasium Three – at the National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil soon, the Star Online reported today.

In an interview with the English daily, the 26-year-old athlete said she used to train at her “second home” almost four hours daily with her teammates before the Covid-19 pandemic had interrupted her schedule.

“I think as an athlete, I am very excited to get back to training because it has been a long time since I have actually been to the gymnasium,” said Farah Ann, who had bagged three gold medals in the Philippines SEA Games last year.

“I think there are a lot of things to consider before we return to training. Hopefully, things return to normal to enable us to train at the gym again.”

Farah said her teammates and everyone involved are figuring out on how to prepare themselves for their training.

“The safety of all is essential. Obviously my coaches, the MSN (National Sports Council) and ISN (National Sports Institute) are doing their very best to make sure that we are all safe and healthy right now. They give us training guidelines and hopefully plan for us to train together.”

At present, training is carried out at home unless the government approves the Youth and Sports ministry’s plan for athletes who have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics to train at the gym starting the first week of June.

Following the cancellations and postponements of many sports competitions, including the Olympics, Farah Ann said she was mentally affected as it had forced her to defer the preparations by a year.

However, she said she had found wat to keep herself calm.

“At first I was upset, but now I realise I have more time to prepare, more time to train on my new skills and plan for better performances next year. And this line of thought has given me a positive outlook,” Farah Ann was quoted by the Star Online.

The Tokyo Olympics, which was planned for July 24, had been moved to July 23 – August 8 next year.

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