It’s no long shot

Radiah out to deliver Malaysia’s first gold in athletics despite nursing ankle injury

PARALYMPIAN Siti Noor Radiah Ismail (pic) is still nursing an ankle injury.

Despite that, she hopes for a golden finish at the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games.

The five-day athletics programme begins today at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Radiah, who won the bronze in the women’s long jump F20 (learning disability) in the Rio Paralympics last September with a personal best of 5.20m, suffered the injury in the World Para Athletics Championships in London in July.

The 24-year-old finished seventh in London with a jump of 4.84m.

“I hope I can make a decent jump. Despite not being 100%, I will still try my best to deliver the first gold for Malaysia in athletics.

“I want to win the gold to book a place in next year’s Asian Para Games in Jakarta,” she said.

At the 2015 Singapore Games, Radiah won the silver by clearing 4.90m. Compatriot Siti Noor Iasah Mohamad Ariffin bagged the bronze with a jump of 4.83m.

Only six athletes will compete today and Radiah faces a stiff challenge from Indonesian Ernestin Sinaga.

National chief coach R. Jaganathan believes Radiah is capable of delivering the first gold for Malaysia.

“I have faith in her,” he said. Malaysia have entered 72 athletes – 51 men and 21 women – in athletics. A total of 133 golds are up for grabs.

“All of them are in high spirits. They have been training for more than a year and we have set a target for them to win 38 golds. Thailand and Indonesia pose the biggest threat to us,” said Jaganathan.

“We are also expecting our athletes to break a few Asean Games records.”