Cover National para‑archer Nur Syahidah Alim shoots while sitting on a stool
National para‑archer Nur Syahidah Alim shoots while sitting on a stool
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Three Singapore Paralympians heading to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which takes place from August 28 to September 8, share how overcoming the mental barrier is the biggest challenge in their respective journeys to the pinnacle of sports
When national para‑archer Nur Syahidah Alim made her major competition debut in 2015 at the Asean Para Games in Singapore, she won not one but two gold medals, for the women’s individual compound and the mixed team compound. That was also the first time that Singapore had won gold at the Games in archery.
“That was the start of my journey in para‑archery,” says Syahidah. The year after, she represented Singapore at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, reaching the quarter‑finals and taking the 7th spot. “I was happy and proud [to be] the first para‑archer to have represented Singapore in the sport—and setting a milestone for [the country], especially on a world stage like the Paralympics,” she says.
“It was exciting to shoot alongside the best archers from various countries. As an athlete, getting to participate and represent your country at the Olympics, or Paralympics, is a unique experience, and something that everyone wants to achieve,” shares Syahidah, who went on to participate in the Tokyo Games in 2021, but only made it to the 1/8 elimination round for the women’s individual compound. Last July, the two‑time Paralympian earned a spot at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, after finishing sixth at the World Archery Para Championships in Pilsen, Czech Republic.
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Above Nur Syahidah Alim won the silver medal at the competition
Nur Syahidah Alim won the silver medal at the competition
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Born with diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy that causes muscle stiffness in the lower extremities of the body, usually the legs, Syahidah has difficulty walking or standing for extended periods of time. “When I first started [competing], it was challenging for me because with my condition, I’m not able to stand or move around for too long,” she shares. “One of the challenges was definitely getting my core strength and being able to shoot while sitting on a stool.”
Syahidah first discovered archery as an 18‑year‑old, when she visited the Singapore Disability Sports Expo organised by the Singapore Disability Sports Council. “I was very curious and discovered that there are a lot of para‑sports in Singapore. I had the opportunity to try some of them out, including archery,” she says. “It was my first time holding a bow and an arrow, and [all the arrows I shot hit] the centre of the target. It gave me a sense of achievement and I thought to myself that if I wanted to do sport, I want to challenge myself to do something that’s unique to me—and that’s archery.”
Above Nur Syahidah Alim
Nur Syahidah Alim
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She continued doing archery recreationally, but it was not until 2015 that she, encouraged by her mother, decided to take on the sport competitively. From competing with the best, Syahidah became the best. In 2019, she earned Singapore’s first world champion title at the World Archery Para Championships in the Netherlands. “It was one of the highlights of my career,” she says, “and for the first time, Singapore was seen as a country to watch in the competition.”
The current world number three, according to the World Archery rankings, won silver at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou in 2023, another first para‑archery medal for Singapore. Competing in the Paralympics has been a great learning experience for Syahidah, who shares that “the biggest learning point is definitely the importance of having mental strength and mental confidence”. The full‑time athlete has been working closely with her coach and the team at the Singapore Sport Institute “to improve not only my shooting process and technique, but most importantly, my mental focus, especially when shooting at a high‑pressure competition such as the Paralympics”.
Above Nur Syahidah Alim at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou in 2023
Nur Syahidah Alim at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou in 2023
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For Paris, Syahidah says she hopes “to do my personal best, not only in my shooting performance, but also my shooting process and mental focus”. She adds: “I want to just enjoy the experience of shooting in Paris and, hopefully, set another milestone for Singapore.” Leading up to the Paralympics, she trains five days a week, clocking in about 40 hours of intense work, including strength and conditioning, as well as devising various strategies with her coach.
On behalf of all the para‑athletes who are competing in Paris, Syahidah counts on the support of fellow Singaporeans and “hope that they can watch us in action during the Paralympics”. She says: “Even if you’re not in Paris, we can still feel your heartbeat—and it gives us the motivation and confidence to do our best.”
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Credits
Images: Dyan Tjhia/sport Singapore (Competition); Singapore National Paralympic Council (Portrait)
As Senior Editor of Tatler Singapore, Hashirin champions and refines the storytelling across platforms—curating and crafting compelling profiles, cover stories and features that spotlight visionaries shaping culture, business and impact. Driven by curiosity, she draws inspiration from the artists, changemakers and trailblazers she encounters through her work. Beyond the pages of Tatler, she is an avid supporter of local theatre and delights in seeking out art in every city she visits.
