By Rebecca Chong
Sabah Para Games star Eddy sets sights on 2020 Paralympics
SANDAKAN: Eddy Bernard, the only Sabah athlete to win gold at the just concluded 3rd Asian Para Games in Jakarta, has set his eyes on qualifying for the Paralympics 2020 in Tokyo.
Eddy won the Men’s Long Jump T44, T62/64 in a new Games record of 6.30m last Friday, which also earned him the distinction of delivering the 15th gold for the national contingent to achieve their target in the Games.
The 17-year-old athlete revealed that he will have a list of championships laid out for next year, including the ASEAN Para Games in Manila in which he will attempt to defend his gold in T39 100m and T22 long jump categories.
“I am very happy to have achieved gold in the Asian Para Games...this is my highest achievement so far.
“After SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) in November, I will be training hard to achieve better results and improve my performance,” he said when met upon arrival at the Sandakan Airport yesterday.
Eddy participated in two categories in the 3rd Asian Para KUALA LUMPUR: The national men’s junior hockey 5s squad claimed the second gold medal for the Malaysian contingent at the 2018 Youth Olympics Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
National women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei clinched the first gold medal for the Malaysian contingent on Friday.
The national under-18 hockey team coached by Walace Tan beat India 4-2 in the final match at the Youth Olympic Park on Sunday.
According to the Malaysian Hockey Confederation twitter @ hockeymalaysia, India shocked the national squad as early as the second minute with a goal from captain Vivek Sagar Prasad.
Malaysia managed to equalise three minutes later via a field goal by Firdaus Rosdi but within seconds the opponents took the lead again through Vivek’s goal.
Akhimullah Anuar levelled the score four minutes after the second half started before Amirul Hamizan Azahar put Malaysia ahead in the 17th minute.
Akhimullah scored the winning goal for Malaysia a minute later to deliver the gold medal for the men’s five-a-side event.
Meanwhile, the host bagged the bronze medal after trashing Zambia 4-0. - Bernama Games but failed to qualify for the 100m final after placing fifth in the heat.
“I’m going to focus more on Long Jump in future competitions but I will also take part in the 100m as my second event,” he said.
The Form Five student of SMK Beluran added that it had been a memorable first trip to Jakarta and he thanked his family, coaches, friends and teachers who had given him support.
The youngest child out of six siblings is a cerebral palsy athlete, and he said that he discovered his ability in sports through his former coach, Norhafiszan Ahamad Narowi, who is now attached at SMK Tuaran since June this year.
“There was a slight problem when my coach moved away, but I remember what he taught me and train according to his plan. My new coaches including Ricales Kinchin has been very helpful too,” he said.
Eddy advised young people with disability that their disability should not be an obstacle for them to achieve their dream; never give up and continue working hard, and they will be closer to achieving their dreams.
Meanwhile, his current coach Ricales said Eddy trained hard on his own without much instruction from him.
“He is very disciplined and hard working on his own. I do not need to tell him much...he set about two hours to train every day. What we (coaches) could do is only to assist him to achieve his best, the rest is his own effort and determination,” he said.
For the record, Eddy is one of nine Sabah athletes selected for the Asian Para Games where Jonathan Wong and Didin Taresoh won silver while Doriah Paulus grabbed a bronze.
The others are Jacklon Ganding, Adderin Majurin, Ramli Rahim, Lidwina Isidore and Haswadi Mosliadi.
In the just concluded Games, the Malaysian contingent achieved their best ever performance by collecting 17 gold, 26 silver and 24 bronze to finish at eighth overall.
National hockey team deliver M’sia’s second Youth Olympics gold