Best ever performance in APG augers well for 2018 Asian Para Games – Jeganathan

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian para athletics squad's best ever performance in the ASEAN Para Games (APG) which comes to a close yesterday, augers well for the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta next year, said athletics chief coach R. Jeganathan.

Jeganathan who was instrumental in the success of the athletics squad that won three gold medals at the Rio Paralympics in Brazil last year said Malaysia's ability to win 36 gold, 27 silver and 30 bronze medals was the best ever in the APG history.

Never mind the fact that Indonesia who will be hosting the 2018 Asian Games and Asian Para Games next year emerging as the overall champions in track and field events with 40 golds, 28 silvers and 17 bronzes, because Malaysia managed to surpass previous edition overall champions Thailand who managed 26 golds, 33 silvers and 31 bronzes, said Jeganathan.

“We may have failed to achieve the 40-gold target but it was a far better achievement than the 27 gold medals won in Singapore two years ago and finishing third behind Thailand and Indonesia,” said Jeganathan when met by Bernama after track and field events ended Thursday.

He said the emergence of Indonesia as the new power in Paralympics sports must be given specific attention when preparing for the Asian Para Games next year since they would have an additional tonic in their hostile home fans when hosting the games.

"We however, cannot take anything away from our athletes who had performed exceptionally well. All credit to them and I am very happy and proud with their hard work, commitment and dedication. Many of them had either set a new Asian record, Games record or personal best,

"I am confident that if they (athletes) can maintain their momentum and hard work, they will be able to qualify for the International Paralympic Council (IPC) World Championships in the future,” he said.

Jeganathan said more talented para athletes need to be identified and groomed for national duty as a replacement for ageing elite athletes who decide to retire.

He said the athletics squad would take a two-week break before resuming training and preparations for the 2018 Asian Para Games.

Athletics was the biggest contributor to the country's overall medal tally with 36 gold, followed by cycling with 22, Tenpin bowling 11, swimming 9, badminton 4, chess 2, wheelchair tennis 2, plus one each from powerlifting, table tennis, archery and goalball.

Two athletes - Muhamad Ashraf Muhammad Haisham and world champion Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli also managed to smash the existing games record in the men's 1,500 T46 and men's shot put F20, respectively.

Muhamad Ashraf clocked 4 minutes 24.73 seconds to erase the old mark of 4:27.90s set by Isidro Bildolosa from the Philippines in the 2005 edition hosted by the Philippines while Muhammad Ziyad erased his own mark of 15.69m (Myanmar 2014) with throw of 16.81m, here. - Bernama