From pasar malam to podium – Arsyad rises in taekwondo

Triumphant partnership: Pahang’s Arsyad (left) with coach Kongpol Khoomkrong. — Bernama

KUCHING: The journey of Pahang’s taekwondo exponent, Putera Arsyad Danish Mohd Afrizan, to winning the gold medal in the men’s 68kg category at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) is a story of unexpected turns and meaningful encounters.

Arsyad’s taekwondo career kicked off when he was just 14, after a chance meeting with a Thai taekwondo coach, Kongpol Khoomkrong, at a ‘pasar malam’ (night market) in Kuantan.