FOR SYED AKMAL, PETANQUE IS MORE THAN A SPORT - IT’S A STRESS-BUSTER

From Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif

BANGKOK, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- Petanque is not merely a type of sport where you toss hollow steel balls (boules) to get as close as possible to a small wooden target ball (the jack). Instead, it can be the best medium for managing emotions, teaching patience and increasing focus in daily life.

For national player Syed Akmal Fikri Syed Ali, who has spent over two decades playing the game, it has become a "therapy space” that has helped him manage stress and anger.

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 Syed Akmal, who is set to carry the nation's challenge in the SEA Games Thailand 2025 here, said he applies the experience gained and lessons learnt from competitions in his daily life, especially when facing criticism from the outside.

"Petanque requires a lot of patience. When you are in the circle to make a throw, no one is allowed to make noise; there is no other movement… everything must be done calmly. That teaches me to control my emotions.

"In real life, I also adopt the same practice. When people criticise me, I use the experience I acquired from being in the circle to remain calm and think rationally before issuing any statements,” he said when met by Bernama recently.

The sports officer at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Shah Alam, who serves as the shooter, also uses every throw to relieve stress.

 He said that petanque is unique in that it requires a very high level of calmness and focus, making it suitable for players of all ages, whether as a recreational or competitive activity.

"Petanque is not just a recreational activity, it also helps shape personality, control emotion and enhance self-confidence. I greatly encourage everyone to give it a try,” said Syed Akmal, who has won two SEA Games gold medals in the men's doubles and triples events since making his debut in 2011 in Indonesia.

In Thailand, the 28-year-old, who was born in Dungun, Terengganu, will compete in the mixed triples event with Saiful Bahri Musmin and his (Syed Akmal's) sister, Sharifah Aqilah Farhana, and they are one of the gold medal favourites.

Syed Akmal will also have two other siblings in action in Bangkok - younger brother Syed Afiq Fakhri (in men's triples) and younger sister Sharifah Afiqah Farzana (mixed doubles).

According to Syed Akmal, the eldest of the four siblings, petanque has long been synonymous with his family.

"Our father is the national team coach. If a car has an engine, then our dad is the engine of my life, especially in petanque.

"I've been involved in petanque since I was 10. My siblings also represent the country in petanque. My mum and my wife also play the game. Today, we have proven that the children of 'Cik Li’ (as my father is called) have gone as far as representing Malaysia,” he said.

Petanque, which offers 11 gold medals, will be held from tomorrow until Dec 15 at the Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University in Pathum Thani.

The Malaysian Boules Sports Federation (MBSF) have set a four-medal target for the national petanque team for this edition.

For the record, the national team bagged one gold, one silver and three bronze medals in the previous edition in Cambodia.

-- BERNAMA