KRISHNA FACES THAI THREAT IN BID TO DEFEND THREE TITLES
KUALA LUMPUR: Krishna Kumar Hari Das starred with three gold medals at the Singapore Para Asean Games in 2015.
The Melaka para athlete was in smashing form in Singapore as he won the men’s T38 (cerebral palsy) 100m, 200m and 400m events.
He also broke the Asean record in the 100m by clocking 12.46 seconds.
But for the Kuala Lumpur Para Games, the 30-year-old Krishna is expecting a stiff challenge from Thailand’s Damchoom Surasak as he seeks to defend the three golds at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil from Sept 18-23.
Krishna, who featured in the Rio Paralympics last year, admitted that the 18-year-old Damchoom had made steady progress since making his debut in Singapore two years ago.
“I beat him to the gold in the 400m two years ago. But he will start as the favourite to win the 400m this time as he has a personal best of 57 seconds,” said Krishna, whose personal best is 59.07.
But Krishna is not going to let that stop him from defending his three gold medals.
“Although I am already 30, I still have the strength and speed to give my best in front of our home fans,” said Krishna, who has contributed a total of 10 golds and two silvers in five Para Games.
He made his debut in Korat 2007 and won golds in 100m and 200m. He repeated the feat in Laos 2009.
In Surakarta, Indonesia in 2011, he won gold in 100m and silvers in 200m and 400m.
He then bagged the sprint double in Naypyidaw in 2014 before winning the three golds in Singapore.
“I want to win as many golds as possible for Malaysia in the Asean Para Games,” said Krishna, who featured in the 2014 Incheon Asian Para Games and won silver in 400m and bronze in 100m.