Para SUKMA: Norhayati Clinches Four Golds In Chess, Matching Swimmer Husband’s Haul

The phrase ‘equal in stature, equal in spirit’ perfectly describes Norhayati Sarnoh’s remarkable achievement of winning four gold medals in chess at the 2024 Para Malaysia Games (Para SUKMA) in Sarawak, matching her husband Khairul Razi Suliman’s gold-medal haul in swimming.

Norhayati, 43, lost her sight at the age of 19 due to an adverse drug reaction but never lost her competitive drive. Despite stepping away from sports temporarily to focus on her family, her passion reignited when she returned to chess seven years ago.

The Perak representative said she initially took up chess on a whim after being encouraged by a close friend, never imagining it would turn into both a competitive career and a source of income. She also works as an instructor at a centre for the blind in Kuala Lumpur.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency