Kuala Lumpur: In the critical phase of recovery from her right ankle injury during Ramadan, national pole vaulter Nor Sarah Adi is diligently working at the National Sports Institute (NSI) to ensure her dream of competing in the 2025 Thailand SEA Games becomes a reality.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the 24-year-old 2021 SEA Games gold medallist mentioned that doctors anticipate she could resume training by the end of the month and possibly compete as early as May if her recovery progresses smoothly without any setbacks.

Nor Sarah has been recuperating for three months following surgery on her right ankle in December last year. She continues to undergo rehabilitation sessions twice daily. The injury, which had previously troubled her, involved persistent pain and the growth of spurs, necessitating surgical intervention. The doctor also repaired ligaments in her leg during the procedure. She expressed gratitude for the positive progress so far, although acknowledging that the recovery period has been slightly extended to ensure she returns to the track in optimal condition.

The NSI medical team is concentrating on a comprehensive recovery plan for Nor Sarah, which includes ankle strengthening, support exercises, mobility training, and consistent mobilisation treatments. Nor Sarah has committed to following every recovery procedure with full discipline to prevent a recurrence of her injury history upon her return to action. She eagerly anticipates training again with her “beloved pole,” which has been waiting for her on the training track for a long time.

Nor Sarah is confident that with the time available, she can fully recover and secure a spot for the Thailand SEA Games this December. Her journey has not been without challenges; she faced a significant setback when her pole went missing before the women’s pole vault final at the 2022 Malaysia Games (SUKMA). Additionally, she was unable to defend her gold medal at the 2023 SEA Games, failing to clear the first two jumps and returning without a medal.