A heartwarming story of community support and determination has captured the hearts of many, as two Malaysian siblings recently flew to France to compete in an international horseback archery tournament.
The viral video of their journey has left everyone inspired by their grit and achievements.
Photo via TikTok (@fathimridayu)
The video, posted by @fathimridayu on TikTok, features Abdurrahman and his younger sister, Heba Nursaybah, going head-to-head with top contenders from 15 other countries, including France, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Brazil, and the United States. The siblings were in France to compete in the European Kids Championship 2024, held in Gauchoux, where Abdurrahman triumphed as the U14 champion, while Heba secured second place in the U12 category.
Their remarkable feat—standing on the podium alongside seasoned athletes—sparked admiration, with viewers praising their perseverance in taking on such a global challenge.
@fathimridayu Alhamdulillah.. Abdurrahman juara keseluruhan U14 daripada 3 format yang dipertandingkan; FFE Raid233, FFE Tower60 & Hunt Track. 16 buah negara (Perancis, Belanda, Belgium, Indonesia, Brazil, Finland, Poland, England, Sepanyol, Jerman, Afrika Selatan, Switzerland, Turki, Amerika Syarikat, Ireland dan Malaysia) dengan lebih 110 pesaing. Wakil Malaysia: Abdurrahman (U14) - Juara Heba Nusaybah (U12) - Naib Juara #equestrianarchery #memanahberkuda #horsebackarchery #arbaequestrianarchery ♬ suara asli - Asyifa tri hendrianda - user57835527164
In the midst of the praise, curious netizens asked if their trip was government-sponsored. Their mother shared that the journey was entirely self-funded, with her playing multiple roles as their manager and coach.
"It was just the three of us. We received a small contribution from their grandparents, and we raised more by selling homemade Raya cookies. France is incredibly expensive, so we had to be frugal. The reason we were so determined to attend this competition, despite the high costs, is that most of the world champions in horseback archery come from France. It was an invaluable learning experience for them."
She further explained how they managed to travel on a tight budget: "While other teams had vehicles arranged for them upon arrival, we took public transport. From Paris Airport, we had a five-hour bus ride to Limoges, followed by another hour-long train ride to Bellac. We carried all our luggage ourselves."
Even food was something they had to plan for: "To save money, we brought ready-to-eat meals from Malaysia. The organisers charged €40 per person daily for food, which was around RM200 each. Alhamdulillah, despite the expenses, it was all worth it."
@fathimridayu Diikuti 16 negara (Perancis, Belanda, Belgium, Indonesia, Brazil, Finland, Poland, England, Sepanyol, Jerman, Afrika Selatan, Switzerland, Turki, Amerika Syarikat, Ireland dan Malaysia) dengan lebih 110 pesaing. Wakil Malaysia: Abdurrahman (U14) & Heba Nusaybah (U12) Video credited to Barebow Mounted Archers (FB) #equestrianarchery #memanahberkuda #horsebackarchery #arbaequestrianarchery ♬ original sound - FathimRidayu
The story touched many, with Malaysians pouring in their congratulations and words of support.
We too send our heartfelt congratulations to Abdurrahman and Heba Nursaybah, hoping this viral moment opens even more doors for them in the future!
