Ziyad sets sights on next goal
Para athlete wants the disabled to believe that ‘nothing is impossible’
KUALA LUMPUR: We always hear people saying “nothing is impossible”.
Well, para athlete Ziyad Zolkefli doesn’t just talk. He has proven it again and again.
His latest feat – a bronze in men’s shot putt against able-bodied opponents at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games on Tuesday – has only endeared him to the public in general, and the disabled in particular.
He is fast becoming an inspiration to them.
The Rio Paralympics gold medallist, who has learning disabilities, created history at the KL Games by becoming the first disabled Malaysian athlete to win a medal against able-bodied athletes at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday.
Ziyad, who broke the world record in the World Para Athletics in London with a throw of 17.29m en route to winning gold last month, hurled the iron ball to a distance of 17.12m to finish behind two Thai athletes – Promrob Juntima, who retained his gold with an effort of 17.42m and Thawat Khacin, who took silver with 17.15m.
Ziyad’s effort was a mere 3cm short of the silver medal mark.
What makes Ziyad’s effort even more astounding is that Adi Alifuddin Husin, who also holds the national record of 17.54m, could only finish fourth with a dismal 16.44m.
Adi was also the bronze medallist in the last two Games – in Myanmar 2013 and Singapore 2015.
This is the not the first time that Ziyad has won a medal when going up against able-bodied athletes.
He had surprised everyone in the Thailand Open in June when he won the gold medal with an effort of 17.06m.
The 27-year-old Ziyad said that he took part in the SEA Games, bent on winning the gold “just like what I did in the Thailand Open”.
“I tried my best but it was just good enough for a bronze. I am satisfied with my efforts as I am now the first disabled athlete to win a medal in the SEA Games,” he said.
Ziyad, who will be featuring in the Asean Para Games from Sept 17-23, said that he hopes to be a role model for disabled athletes and disabled people.
“I have created many firsts in my athletics career, which I hope will be an inspiration to others like me. I want them to know that there is nothing that is impossible to achieve.
“You must work hard for it. And you must be very disciplined in your training and be focused on whatever tasks given to you.
“My focus now is to win gold in the Asean Para Games next month,” vowed Ziyad.