Paris 2024: Nur Syahidah Alim ends Paralympics campaign with a close finish

By Nicole Chia

Archer Nur Syahidah Alim bowed out of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games after a valiant effort in the women’s individual compound open on 30 August. The 39-year-old, competing in her third Paralympic Games, fell 133-135 to Ameera Lee of Australia in the 1/16 elimination round at the Esplanade des Invalides in Paris.

Singapore archer Nur Syahidah Alim in action during the 1/16 elimination round of the women’s individual compound open at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Credit: SportSG/Jeremy Lee

Athletes shoot 15 arrows split into five ends of three arrows, and World No. 2 Syahidah made a superb start with her first arrow finding the centre of the innermost ring. She concluded the first end with a near-perfect score of 29 to Lee’s 27.

The second end was slightly tricker – Syahidah opened with a 5 after her first arrow veered wide. But the 2019 world champion recovered magnificently, shooting a 10 followed by 9 to tie the score at 53-53 entering the third end.

Singapore archer Nur Syahidah Alim in action during the 1/16 elimination round of the women’s individual compound open at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Credit: SNPC/Dyan Tjhia

By then, spectators had opened their umbrellas and put up their hoods as the drizzle turned into rain. Syahidah, the 2023 Asian Para Archery Championships gold medallist, she shot three 9s to take a one-point lead after the third end. But the 44th-ranked Lee retaliated in the next with a perfect score to edge ahead to 109-108. Though the Singaporean held her nerve in the final end despite trailing, Lee was ultimately rewarded for her steadier performance throughout all five ends.

Syahidah later revealed that she had struggled to maintain consistency and focus due to the rain and chilly weather, adding: “It’s something I’ll need to prepare for more thoroughly in future competitions. I was pleased with the strong start, but that 5 in the second end was definitely a setback. That shot shook my confidence a while, and I had to work hard to regain my composure for the rest of the round. I tried to focus on each shot and not dwell on that bad shot, even though it was challenging.”

Singapore archer Nur Syahidah Alim congratulates Ameera Lee of Australia after their women’s individual compound open 1/16 elimination round match at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Credit: SportSG/Jeremy Lee

Syahidah is Singapore’s first female archer to compete at the Paralympic Games, with her maiden appearance at the Rio 2016 Games. She was a quarter-finalist in Rio, before also reaching the 1/16 elimination round at the Tokyo 2020 Games. She concludes her third Paralympic campaign armed with valuable lessons for the future. “One key takeaway is the importance of mental resilience, especially when things don’t go as planned. Staying focused and adapting quickly to changing conditions, like the weather, is crucial,” she said.

“I've also gained a deeper understanding of the level of preparation and consistency required to compete at the highest level. Moving forward, I’ll be focusing on building my mental strength to ensure I’m ready for any situation that comes my way.”

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games take place in Paris, France from 28 August to 8 September 2024. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.