SEPANG, Aug 14 — If not for his stubborn streak, Ayzek Hakimi Safingan might never have become a national petanque player.
At 14, the Sepang-born athlete would frequently return home late, sometimes only appearing at around 1 am. It was all because of his passion for the sport.
Initially, his parents opposed Ayzek Hakimi’s involvement in petanque. They worried that his studies would suffer and that he was spending too little time at home, especially with the Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3) examination awaiting him the following year.
While in Form Two, he even resorted to selling fish and vegetables to raise the RM50 entry fee for a petanque tournament.
“If I wanted to compete, I had to find the money myself. I sold fish and pucuk manis. That was the money I used to enter tournaments.
“My family was struggling at the time, and my parents didn’t like me playing this sport, so I had to make my own effort. Giving up was never an option for me,” he told Media Selangor.
Fifty ringgit may not mean much to some, but that sum helped set Ayzek Hakimi on a path that would eventually see him bring pride to Selangor and Malaysia.
The 23-year-old, who won a bronze medal at the SEA Games, acknowledged that petanque does not enjoy the same popularity as a sport such as football.
“Maybe that was one of the reasons my father didn’t support me. He couldn’t see a future in the sport. But I took up petanque because I wanted to change my family’s fortunes.
“I wanted to win prize money from petanque. I chose this sport because the winnings didn’t have to be shared among as many people as in a football team. Yes, I wanted to change my family’s fortunes. We struggled back then. Life wasn’t as comfortable as it may seem now,” he said, reflecting on the past.
Before discovering petanque, Ayzek Hakimi was involved in various sports, including cricket and football. In fact, he had performed relatively well in cricket.
However, after watching his friends practise petanque at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sungai Rawang in Sepang, he was immediately drawn to trying something new.
At first, Ayzek Hakimi simply wanted to give it a go. Over time, that curiosity grew into a passion and eventually a dream.
While most of his schoolmates headed home after classes, Ayzek Hakimi made his way to the training court. The gruelling sessions often left him so tired that he would doze off at school, drawing concern from some of his teachers.
“My father really didn’t support it. He thought I was coming home late because I was hanging out with friends. When my teachers told him I was always sleepy in class, he became even more worried,” he said with a smile as he recalled those days.
Yet Ayzek Hakimi refused to give up. Throughout Form Two, every competition he entered ended without success. Despite the disappointment, quitting never crossed his mind.
“If I lost, I would enter another tournament. I believed that if I kept trying, one day I would win,” he said.
That belief eventually paid off. In Form Three, he began winning open tournaments before being selected for the Selangor squad, becoming its youngest player at the time.
Ayzek Hakimi’s name gained greater recognition following his success at the Malaysia Games (SUKMA). He considers the gold medal he won at the 2018 SUKMA in Perak his most meaningful achievement as it opened the door to representing Malaysia.
He subsequently joined the national junior squad before earning a call-up to the senior team. At 19, Ayzek Hakimi made his SEA Games debut and returned with a bronze medal for Malaysia.
For the young athlete, every medal is a reminder of the hardships he endured along the way.
Despite his pursuit of success on the court, he also tried to balance sport with his studies. One of his most vivid memories was the daunting prospect of sitting for his PT3 examination just a day after SUKMA ended.
“I studied with the help of the older members of the team. They helped me a lot with my revision.
“Thanks to God, I still passed even though I had very little time. That was what made my father proud. Even though I was busy, my studies were still going well,” he said with a smile.
Now a Sports Science graduate from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, Ayzek Hakimi’s routine has changed little. Training remains a priority, whether at UiTM or when he is called up for national centralised training camps.
Joining a national training camp can mean spending several months away from his family, but his close bond with them has never changed.
To Ayzek Hakimi, his family is his lifeline. Whenever he has a free day, he makes a point of returning home, whether from Shah Alam or the training centre in Kuala Selangor.
“Whenever I have time, I go home. I can’t stay away from my family.”
The man who once worried most about his late nights is now among his staunchest supporters.
More significantly, Ayzek Hakimi’s achievements have inspired his siblings.
The national prospect said his younger siblings often wondered how he managed to travel overseas and make a name for himself while bringing pride to Selangor and Malaysia.
One of them has since represented Selangor in petanque at SUKMA, while another is actively training at school level.
For Ayzek Hakimi, that is the real reward. He has not only changed his own life but also paved the way for his younger siblings to pursue their dreams.
At the same time, he hopes petanque will continue to grow in Malaysia. Ayzek Hakimi believes the country has many talented players but needs more coaches, development programmes and training facilities to produce more world-class athletes.
His own journey is far from over. After winning bronze on his SEA Games debut, Ayzek Hakimi is now chasing gold at the next edition of the regional Games.
Beyond that, he dreams of competing at the Petanque World Championships and bringing further glory to Malaysia.
Everything he has achieved began with a decision he made as a teenager — selling fish and pucuk manis at the morning market for the sake of petanque.
What is petanque?
Originating in France, petanque is played by throwing metal balls, known as boules, as close as possible to a small target ball called the jack.
A ball closest to the jack can be displaced by an opponent’s throw.
The aim is to score points by placing boules closer to the jack than the opposing side. Both of a player’s feet must remain inside the throwing circle until the boule is released.
Petanque can be played in singles, doubles or triples.
History
Petanque was introduced in La Ciotat in southern France in 1907.
The name “petanque” originates from the French term “pieds tanqués”, referring to keeping both feet planted on the ground while throwing.
The sport spread across Europe before expanding to Asia, Africa and the Americas.
Petanque began developing in Malaysia around the early 1990s and is contested at SUKMA, the SEA Games, Asian championships and world championships.
Basic techniques
Pointing (point): Throwing a boule so that it stops as close as possible to the jack.
Shooting (shoot): Throwing a boule to knock an opponent’s boule away.
Half shot: The boule lands slightly in front of the target before striking an opponent’s boule.
Full iron shot (carreau): The boule directly strikes an opponent’s boule without first touching the ground. It is considered one of the most difficult techniques because it requires a high degree of accuracy.
Lob shot: The boule is thrown high into the air before landing near the jack.
Types of players
Pointer: A player who specialises in placing boules close to the jack and requires good touch and control.
Shooter: A player tasked with knocking away an opponent’s boules, requiring accuracy and throwing power.
Middle (milieu): A versatile player capable of performing both pointing and shooting effectively.
Development in Malaysia
Petanque has been contested at SUKMA since 2008.
Malaysia won a petanque gold medal at the 2015 SEA Games.
Many Malaysian petanque athletes have emerged through development programmes in schools, higher education institutions and state associations.
