SEA Games: S'pore settle for 4 silat bronzes after semis, but Alfian makes Class F final

Nur Shafiqa Sheik Alau'ddin of Singapore (left) competes against Olathay Sounthavong of Laos during their women's pencak silat semi-final tanding class B (50-55kg) match at the 28th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Singapore on June 13, 2015. --
Nur Shafiqa Sheik Alau'ddin of Singapore (left) competes against Olathay Sounthavong of Laos during their women's pencak silat semi-final tanding class B (50-55kg) match at the 28th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Singapore on June 13, 2015. -- PHOTO: AFP

SINGAPORE - The Republic's silat exponents earned four bronzes on Saturday afternoon, after falling in their semi-finals.

Nur Shafiqa Sheik Alauddin was defeated 4-1 by Laos' Olathay Sounthavong in the women's tanding class B semi-final.

Team-mate Nurul Suhaila Mohamed Saiful then fell 0-5 to Malaysia's Siti Rahmah Mohamed Nasir in the class D match.

Sheik Ferdous Sheik Alauddin also lost 0-5 to Malaysia's Mohd Al Jufferi in the men's tanding class E match while his brother Sheik Farhan also lost 0-5 to Malaysia's Muhammad Robial Sobri.

Only Muhammad Nur Alfian Juma'en narrowly defeated Malaysia's Khalid Mohd Fauzi 3-2 in his class F semi-final for a chance at gold.

The lead ping-ponged between the two exponents in the three bouts of the match. In the dying moments of the last round, Alfian found a last burst of energy to begin attacking with renewed vigour.

This paid off as the scores were tied, but he eventually won after a lengthy, final-second refereeing decision that spurred cheers from the home crowd and boos from Malaysian fans.

The finals will be held on Sunday at the Singapore Expo.

Chingyl@sph.com.sg

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