Math teacher aims to score gold

BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria is confident the national badminton squad will deliver at least four gold medals at the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games (KL2017) next week.

Norza, who met the squad yesterday at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil, said: “When I took over as president in April, one of my first moves was to form the para badminton committee because as we know, badminton will also be making its debut at the 2020 Paralymics in Tokyo.

“Prior to that, there wasn’t any proper management so we have to prepare ourselves from now if we want to come good in the next couple of years.

“At the Asean Para Games this year, Malaysia will be competing in 13 out of 14 events and I am confident that the team will be able to deliver at least four gold medals.”

A total of 26 players will take part in this year’s edition.

At the 2015 Singapore Games, Malaysia won two gold medals, four silver and five bronzes.

One of Malaysia’s key shuttlers this year is reigning world champion Didin Taresoh, who will compete in the men’s singles SS6 category.

Didin, 42, said: “I am already considered a veteran, but I have trained really hard for this and I want to do well. You can say that after the 2020 Paralympics, I will call it a day.

“I only picked up the sport in 2015. I have since been training with able bodied athletes in Sabah,” said the mathematics teacher from Sekolah Kebangsaan Bongkud Ranau. Fabian Peter

I am already considered a veteran, but I have trained really hard for this and I want to do well.