Blind cyclists still hope to compete in Asean Para Games

KUALA LUMPUR: Blind cyclists Khairul Azwan Wahab and Khairul Nizam Mohd Ali are undeterred by Thursday’s crash and will not give up their dreams to compete at next week’s Asean Para Games.

They were discharged from Sungai Buloh Hospital yesterday while their respective pilots are still being warded. Khairul Azwan’s pilot Nor Rizuan Zainal is being treated for spinal injures while Khairul Nizam’s partner Nur Syafiq Suhaimy has a leg fracture.

The four cyclists and their coach Johari Nayan met with an accident while training along the Kuala LumpurKuala Selangor (Latar) Highway on Thursday.

Khairul Azwan, 25, said he and Khairul Nizam are still hoping to compete at the Asean Para Games road cycling competition, which takes place on Sept 2021.

“We do not want to give up the fight. We have been training together for the past two years since we knew cycling will be in the Asean Para Games programme.

“Both of us had concussion but other than that we are okay.

“There is still time,” said Khairul Azwan.

“The accident was so sudden and I found myself lying on the ground,” added Khairul Azwan, who partnered Nor Rizuan at the Rio Paralympics.

The duo were the favourites to win the road time trial event.

National Sports Council (NSC) directorgeneral Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said they will wait until Sunday to decide on Khairul Nizam and Khairul Hazwan’s participation at the Games.

Malaysia has another pair in Aiman Asyraf Ahmad BajuriMohd Faizal Mohamed Noh for both the time trial and road race.

“Let’s give the doctor more time to evaluate their conditions before we make a final decision,” he said.

We do not want to give up the fight. We have been training together for the past two years for the Asean Para Games.

Khairul Azwan Wahab