Silat star Shakir wants his world crown back
After a poor 2015, former silat world champion eyes a return to the top
He was riding high in 2012, upsetting Vietnamese favourite Le Si Kien and coming from behind to claim the Class H (80-85kg) tanding (match) title at the 15th World Pencak Silat Championships in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Such was his performance that he also won "Best Athlete of the Tournament" gong.
Last year, however, Singapore silat star and national captain Shakir Juanda was brought back down to earth.
He failed to retain his title at last year's World Championships in Phuket, finishing only third, and was ruled out of the tanding event at the South-east Asia (SEA) Games on home soil due to a knee injury.
But the 28-year-old was anything but down at the official launch of the third edition of the official Singapore Jersey and new range of One Team Singapore apparel at the dENiZEN outlet at Jurong Point yesterday.
"Of course, I was disappointed when I was not able to compete in the tanding event in front of the home crowd," he said.
"But I still managed to get a bronze medal in the ganda (artistic doubles) with Sheik (Ferdous).
REGAIN WORLD TITLE
"That is all in the past now and my focus is to regain my title at the World Championships in Bali in December and I am working very hard for that."
"It would be a bonus for me if the supporters come to support us wearing the One Team Singapore apparel," he added, with a grin.
Shakir was accompanied by fellow athletes Chase Tan (Basketball), Charmaine Soh (Netball), Tay Wei Ming (Badminton) and Dipna Lim-Prasad (Athletics) as they paraded the various designs to a whooping crowd.
After the resounding support and success at last year's SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, the collaboration between dENiZEN and Sport Singapore hopes to encourage fans to support Team Singapore athletes by wearing the apparel.
Boasting 14 different designs such as the limited edition Singapore jerseys, OneTeamSG jerseys and the sport series, the collection will be available at all local dENiZEN outlets, with two per cent of the total net proceeds to be donated to the SportCares Foundation.
"As athletes, the support from Singaporeans is very important for us," said Soh.
"Just like the pride we get from wearing our national team jerseys, we look forward to Singaporeans joining us as One Team Singapore in a very visible way - by wearing one of these shirts."
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