2024 ST Athlete of the Year nominee: Sheik Farhan
The Straits Times is celebrating outstanding Singaporeans selected for the 2024 ST Athlete of the Year award, backed by 100Plus. To get to know our athletes better, we asked them about their obsession with winning, what keeps them going and their interests outside of sport. This is what silat exponent Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau’ddin told Deepanraj Ganesan.
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Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau'ddin captured gold at the 2024 World Pencak Silat Championships, making it his fifth title on the global stage.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Q: What is one misunderstood thing about your sport?
When somebody asks me what sport I am in, especially if it is someone that is not really into sports, they often start to do some weird motions with their hands. They think that silat is similar to malay dance. There is an artistic side of things in silat, but that seems to the most common misconception. They don’t see the fighting, competitive side of it. So when these interactions happen, I usually just laugh awkwardly.
Q: Do you try to educate people about silat?
I don’t see myself in that light. But if people show interest and are genuinely curious about it, then I would take my time to explain what its about. But I wouldn’t call myself or try to be an ambassador. My personality is not the type of someone that’s very outgoing and will go out their way to speak to people.
Q: How old were you when you started silat, and what do you love about it?
I don’t remember when I picked up because I was essentially born into it. And while I don’t remember my first kick, what I do remember is my first win which was in an inter-club competition. At about seven, I won a final in my club and that was what piqued my interest – the feeling of winning. I just like winning.
Q: What is it about winning that you like?
Winning feels good. Actually, as I grow older, I hate losing more than I like winning. Especially as I win more, the plaudits will get lesser and the expectations get higher. That also includes the expectations I have of myself.
Q: Tell us about a loss that you remember, and how you reacted to it
The 2018 Asian Games. It is the one that I will always feel (bad about) the most, because I can never redeem that, unless silat is part of the Asian Games again. I had several issues with my body and I was not good enough to overcome these things, and my opponent got the better of me in the semi-finals against Vietnam. Losing that really stung me.
No matter how many more world championships or SEA Games I win, I cannot replace the Asian Games one. The feeling of winning lasts until the next time you can compete, but the (feeling of a) loss will last forever.
Q: You are a five-time world champion – what keeps you going in the sport?
I want to keep winning. There is really no other motivation than just not wanting to lose. I can retire today and feel good about it, but it feels better to have more medals and wins. So yes some part of it is to have more titles.
Q: Who is the most influential figure in your career?
Myself. I know that I work very hard and I think differently about winning, and I feel I’ve worked hard enough to get here. I want to keep wanting to be better, and I’ll keep working harder, and so I’ll say being the better version of myself is my biggest influence.
Q: Can you describe 2024 in one word?
Routine. I choose routine because the year felt like one where I knew what I had to do, and I did it.
Q: Outside of silat, what do you do to relax?
I spend a lot of time with my girlfriend and our pets, two cats and a dog. Besides that, I watch football – I am a Chelsea fan – and the NBA.
Achievements in 2024:
Gold at World Pencak Silat Championships in Class J (90-95kg) – his fifth world title
Gold at Asian Pencak Silat Championships in Class J
