National shot putter Nani Sahirah Maryata is preparing to make her debut at the Asian Games, aiming to break the 17-meter barrier in the event on Monday. The 25-year-old, who holds the Malaysian national record with a throw of 16.36 meters set at last year’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Bangkok, acknowledges the challenge but remains optimistic about her performance.
Nani, a Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) student, described the prospect of surpassing 17 meters as a source of both nervousness and motivation. She expressed a strong desire to achieve this milestone at the Asian Games, or alternatively, at the Asian University Games scheduled for December. If she succeeds, she expects to contend with some of the region’s top throwers, particularly from China and India.
Among her notable competitors is India’s Krishna Jayasankar, an athlete competing in the United States' National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) circuit, whose personal best stands at 17.35 meters. Nani admires Jayasankar’s performances and hopes to offer strong competition. She also noted her experience competing against high-caliber athletes at international events such as the Taiwan Open and Mokpo competitions, where some top-ranked throwers achieve distances around 18 meters.
The field at the Asian Games includes nine participants, with only eight advancing to the final list, underscoring the competitive nature of the event. Nani emphasized that she intends to give her best effort to secure a spot and perform well.
This year, Nani has regained confidence following a period of injury earlier in the year, which she said was challenging. She made a significant comeback by surpassing the 15-meter mark at the Higher Education Institutions Sports (Sukipt) Games, recording a season-best throw of 15.86 meters and claiming the gold medal. This improved performance helped erase her previous personal best of 14.98 meters set two years earlier.
Although her regular coach, Malek Tobias, is not present for this competition, Nani said she feels supported by coach Robert Fazekas, who she described as a great mentor. Despite some nervousness competing without her usual coach, she remains focused and determined as she represents Malaysia on the continental stage.