Once bitten, twice shy

Abdul Latif to take extra caution with food at Para Games

KUALA LUMPUR: Para athlete Abdul Latif Romly (pic) has learned his lesson.

The long jumper from Perlis was hoping to make a memorable outing at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last month but came down with food poisoning just one day before his event.

Abdul Latif competed despite his weak condition. He could only manage 7.34m to finish seventh at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

The 20-year-old Abdul Latif will be defending his gold in the T20 (learning disability) in the Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur from Sept 17-23.

“I need to be more careful with my meals now. I don’t want it (food poisoning) to happen again.

“I am disappointed for not winning a medal in my first SEA Games. But I will make sure that I will be in good health to retain the gold in the Asean Para Games,” said Abdul Latif.

Last September, Abdul Latif broke the world record with a leap of 7.60m to win the gold at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics.

In July this year, he retained the gold at the World Para Athletics Championships in London.

Abdul Latif cleared 7.37m to better his own championship mark of 7.35m which he set en route to the gold at the 2015 edition in Doha, Qatar.

“My mission at the Asean Para Games is to break my world record and win the gold. I want to finish my last competition of the year with a bang. I also want to use the Asean Para Games to qualify for next year’s Asian Para Games (in Jakarta from Oct 6-13),” said Abdul Latif.

For Abdul Latif, he hopes the public will come out and give their full support at the Asean Para Games.

“The fans’ support will definitely motivate us to reach greater heights,” said Abdul Latif.