This Is Your Time

Nurul Suhaila and Aaron Mossadeg share their career experiences and how the Tissot seastar 1000 resonates with them

- Asaph Low

NURUL SUHAILA (@NURULSUHAILA)

ON SUHAILA — Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 in rose gold PVD coated stainless steel case with fabric strap, TISSOT Leather and nylon jacket, nylon pants, and leather and rubber boots, MONCLER COLLECTION Nylon-blend leotard, SALVATORE FERRAGAMO

Tell us about your profession.

I’m a full-time national silat athlete.

When did you decide to actively pursue your passion as a career?

When I was 14 years old, in sports school. It was there where I met a lot of student athletes and decided this is something I wanted to excel in and I got serious about it.

What are some misconceptions people have about your profession?

Silat isn’t a very big sport in Singapore and the first thing that comes to my mind when they hear it is — is it a dance or performance? They are not entirely wrong since silat can be categorised as either artistic or combat sport. I am in combat silat.

You put in a lot of hard work and dedication into your profession. What is the most rewarding part of your journey so far?

Seeing progress in myself. I’ve lost a few fights but I feel I needed those losses to understand how it feels to win. That is where my drive comes from.

The Tissot Seastar 1000 is made to withstand extreme pressure. How do you cope with the demands of your work?

I always show up for myself. No matter how busy a day gets, I always set time aside for myself to relax and take my mind off being an athlete. It can be as simple as a night-time skincare routine, just to be a regular person without the mindset of an athlete.

Describe yourself when you are away from the public eye.