SportPlus.sg speaks to Singapore shuttler Nur Insyirah Khan about her sporting journey so far after her recent victory at the Singapore Sports Hub National Open Championships
Commitment to a sport for 15 years is no easy feat. For someone as young as Insyirah, this means that she has been playing badminton from as young as 7 years old.
As the daughter of a former national badminton player, Insyirah was inspired by her father to take up badminton from a young age and hasn’t looked back since.
To take up a sport is simple. To pursue it year after year with determination and commitment, and through inevitable challenges, are what sets athletes apart.
“Every day is a learning process and what keeps me going is the excitement and adrenaline I get when I am on the court. Since I first took up badminton, the love and passion for my sport has grown to become a huge part of my life,” she shared.
After graduating in 2022 from the customised-post secondary programme offered by her alma mater Singapore Sports School in collaboration with Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Insyirah took her commitment to her craft one step further by becoming a full time athlete. For almost a year, she has been training intensively and competing both locally and abroad.
With 10 training sessions per week, Insyirah’s description of her weekly schedule is short and sweet.
“Badminton, badminton and more badminton,” she said.
Insyirah believes that the combination of training, competition, and experiences gained will prepare and equip her for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in May this year.
She first represented Singapore at the SEA Games in 2017 when she was just 16 years old. With little to no experience competing on the international stage, Insyirah gained new perspectives.
“Given that it was my first time representing Singapore at a major event, getting one point for the team was definitely memorable. I learned that what is most important is the hunger and desire to fight it out,” she recalled.
In 2022, she was part of the Singapore contingent that brought home the mixed team bronze medal at the 22nd Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The journey of a national athlete is not without both high points and low points. For Insyirah, her greatest struggle is managing expectations and pressure.
“As a national athlete, I face the challenge of meeting my own and other’s expectations. This can then affect my mental state and performance. Many times, focusing on results will backfire. So, I shift my focus onto the process instead and find solutions that would help lead to better performances and results.”
Just a few days after winning the singles gold medal at the Singapore Sports Hub National Open Championships, Insyirah flew off to Dubai where she competed at the Asian Mixed Team Championships alongside her fellow Team Singapore shuttlers.
There is no slowing down for Insyirah anytime soon. Insyirah credits badminton for shaping her into who she is today and foresees it playing a significant role in her future.
“Even after I retire, I hope to contribute back to my sport through coaching. Badminton will be by my side for a long time.”
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