KUALA LUMPUR: Sailor Nur Shazrin Latif has received the perfect boost for the Hangzhou Asian Games from Sept 23-Oct 8.

The 25-year-old made a rousing return to competition from injury by winning the ILCA 6 class gold medal at the Enoshima Olympic Week last week.

She will next head to Portugal for a centralised training camp before competing in the Sailing World Championships from Aug 8-20 in The Hague.

At the age of 17, Shazrin, from Pasir Gudang, had created history by becoming Malaysia's first women's sailor at the Olympics in 2016.

The 2018 Jakarta Asian Games bronze medallist revealed that last week's competition in Japan was her first of the year after recovering from a hand injury.

"I didn't expect to win in Japan and I'm so happy because it's my first competition since my injury," said Nur Shazrin.

"I was very stressed as I was troubled by several injuries. I had to bear the pain for some time.

"I had torn tissues, muscles and ligaments on my right hand. My Ulnar nerve was also causing numbness.

"The thing is I can bear pain well until I didn't realise that I had torn muscles. I went for treatment when I felt numbness in my hand and the doctor was shocked by the injuries.

"It was stressful because I couldn't train 100 per cent. The doctor said the nerve injuries will take time to heal. I was anxious because I have high targets, especially with the Asian Games coming soon."

Commenting on her win in Enoshima, Nur Shazrin said she only had three weeks of training.

"The doctor told me to not push 100 per cent, so I'm glad to win with 50 per cent effort.

"I had only one week of full training, the other two weeks were controlled to stay injury free," she added.

"My target is to get back my form for the Asian Games. There's not much time but I will work hard and I hope to be in the Gold fleet in the World Championship."

source: https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2023/06/925843/sailor-shazrin-back-course-after-painful-days