Para athletes get ‘Kita Juara’ push to raise their game

KUALA LUMPUR: Para athletes wanting to be roped into the new Kita Juara programme will have to prove themselves at the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games from Sept 17-23.

As such, expect the athletes to raise their game at the Games.

National Sports Council (NSC) Paralympic branch director Mohd Safrusahar Yusuf said that the Asean Para Games would be the final platform for disabled athletes to prove their mettle.

“The current Kita Juara programme for para athletes ends with the KL Asean Para Games. We’ll have to review the team and name a new group,” said Safrusahar.

“This new group will then be groomed for the Asian Para Games (in Jakarta from Oct 6-13) and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

“This is the opportunity for new athletes to make their way into the national team.”

Safrusahar said they were looking forward to the emergence of many more Paralympic stars like Ridzuan Puzi, Ziyad Zolkefli and Abdul Latif Romly.

“We have only a few world-class athletes, but we have many young ones in the lower level hoping for a chance to shine.”

Safrusahar said that the lack of data on their rivals made it quite challenging to predict who will be the new stars for the nation.

“We have young and good athletes but we don’t know where they stand with the top athletes from other countries. We don’t have much data on the strengths and weaknesses of our opponents.

“It’s best that we focus on our own preparations and hope for our athletes to deliver on the day.”

Malaysia will be represented by 326 athletes and there will be 368 gold medals up for grabs.

In Singapore two years ago, Malaysia won 52 golds, 58 silvers and 37 bronzes to finish third behind Thailand (95-76-79) and Indonesia (81-74-63).

Malaysia have emerged as overall champions once – at the inaugural 2001 Games in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia finished second twice – in 2008 in Thailand and 2009 in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia will compete in all 16 sports – archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, chess, cycling, football 5-a-side, football 7-a-side, goal ball, powerlifting, volleyball, swimming, table tennis, bowling, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball.