Khairol in full concentration during a training gig at the Archer’s Studio indoor archery range in Kuala Lumpur. —
Khairol Redzwan Sidak lost the use of his arm when he was involved in a motorcycle accident. But he is not one to be easily deterred.
He aimed at carving a niche for himself and the 34-year-old now stands as a symbol of resilience and unmatched skill. Khairol is Malaysia’s sole mouth archer. Not only that, he now coaches other youngsters as well.
His story is one of a person who defied all odds through sheer determination and unyielding spirit. His journey, though, had a very painful beginning.
The motorcycle accident over 16 years ago left him with a nerve injury, paralysing his left arm.
Recalling the incident, he said, “I was returning from classes when the accident occurred, marking the end of my arm’s functionality.”
The mouth archer in his formative years.
Despite the setback, Khairol found solace and purpose in archery, beginning his unique journey in 2016.
He fashioned a custom rig for his bow with creativity and persistence, incorporating a piece of leather to facilitate his innovative draw and release technique using his mouth.
“It was a trial-and-error process,” he explains. “But when I finally landed an arrow on the target using my molars for the draw, I knew I had unlocked a new chapter in my life.”
Khairol’s breakthrough came at a 50/60 metre traditional archery meet in Selangor in 2017.
As the only differently-abled archer there, he captured the audience’s heart.
“My heart raced as people gathered around during my turns,” he recalled.
Though he landed only one arrow on the target, the crowd’s encouragement and cheers only served to inspire him further.
Khairol getting a special achievement award from the organisers of the 2019 Thailand Princess Cup Indoor Archery tournament.
Buoyed by support, Khairol began training with the Selangor state archery team as a Paralympic archer.
Transitioning to an Olympic Recurve Bow, he entered numerous local competitions, honing his form and aiming for consistency.
Adjusting to a heavier bow for 70m distances in the Olympic Recurve class remains a challenge, he says.
When not competing, Khairol dedicates his time to nurturing future talents, coaching schoolchildren at his indoor range in Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur.
His life story and foray into coaching serves as inspiration for many young archers.
Khairol’s story parallels Indonesia’s legendary mouth archer, Kholidin. After losing his right arm in a fall from a coconut tree, Kholidin transitioned from a compound bow archer to a Paralympic Barebow specialist.
Kholidin is a legend among his peers in Indonesia.
His remarkable journey led him to a top-three finish and a special award at the Thailand Princess Cup Indoor archery tournament near Bangkok in 2019.
He clinched the silver medal in the Men’s Barebow finals, leaving an indelible mark in the archery world.
Kholidin continued to dazzle at the Teluk Intan Open archery tournament earlier this year, earning him respect throughout the Indonesian archipelago and beyond.
His consistency and skills in local tournaments and international meets have made him a revered figure in the archery community. Khairol and Kholidin embody the spirit of hope and steadfast determination. They serve as inspirations within the archery world and to all who read their remarkable stories.
