Fallen bowling queen Lisa Kwan rebuilds life through archery

Free Malaysia Today

After years of hardship, the twice sportswoman of the year is starting over with the help of an archery coach who believes every athlete deserves dignity.  Read More:   Laporan Lanjut:   Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5 Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download FMT News App: Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46 App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP  #FMTNews #LisaKwan #FormerBowler #NationalAthlete

Transcript

00:00Once, Lisa Kwon was the face of Malaysian bowling, two-time sportswoman of the year,

00:06world medalist, and SEA Games champion. Her high, elegant swing made her one of the finest in the

00:12world. But when the cheers faded, so did the spotlight. A divorce, years of scraping by,

00:19and a small rented room in Kuala Lumpur, a far cry from the podiums she once stood on.

00:25To survive, she worked at a lottery outlet, earning just enough to get through the day.

00:31Now, at 61, Lisa is starting over. Not in the bowling alleys where she made her name,

00:38but in an archery hall in Putalingjaya. Here, she's found something she thought was lost,

00:44a reason to wake up, and a place to belong.

00:48I feel very happy. And then, how you call that, because now I really needed a job.

00:54I really needed a job, and then I get the offer. Don't know what to say. Too happy to say anything.

01:02Her new home is the best archery center, a training ground for young athletes and for

01:06former champions finding their way back. Lisa's role is simple. Guide the juniors,

01:12share her experience, help where she's needed. But for her, it means everything.

01:17Frankly, it's something new for me. But after talking to my coming boss, I feel very happy.

01:26He's a very nice guy. He explained very in detail, and I'm looking forward to this.

01:31I want them to be a better athlete and also a better person.

01:36Her chance came from coach Jeffrey Kopp, a man who believes that athletes shouldn't be forgotten

01:42once the medals stop coming.

01:43Being an athlete myself, you know, or attempting to be one, it's not easy to be at that level

01:52where you can be an elite athlete, yeah? To win, to medal at an international level.

02:01It takes a very special kind of people to be able to do that.

02:05So my doors are open to special people anytime. So when you approach me to say that,

02:13hey, Lisa needs a place, I'll make that place because there is definitely a place for her.

02:19There's definitely a place for special people.

02:21Kopp has done this before, opening his doors to other former champions who had nowhere to go,

02:27like former squash number one Kenneth Lowe. For him, it's more than just sports. It's about dignity.

02:33I don't think so. I think I'm not, I'm the one getting charity here. And the reason why is

02:41because they have so much to give.

02:43Lisa's story is bigger than one athlete. It's about what happens after the glory and how we

02:48treat those who once carried the nation's hopes. For Lisa, this archery hall is the beginning.

02:54A quiet chance to rebuild her life, arrow by arrow, and find balance once again.

03:00Frankie DeCruz and Donis Roger Reza, FMT.

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