Golden joy for birthday boy Sapto

INDONESIAN sprinter Sapto Yogo Purnomo (pic) gave himself a perfect birthday gift.

Sapto, who turned 19 on Sunday, marked a superb Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games debut by clinching the men’s 100m T38 (celebral palsy) gold in heavy rain.

It was the first track event at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Sapto, who hails from central Java, surprised even himself after clocking a personal best of 11.76 seconds.

Thailand’s Nathayod Chaikhan finished second in 12.17 while Malaysian Mohd Erwan Hasnool took bronze in 12.66.

It was a big disappointment for the Malaysian camp when defending champion Krishna Kumar Hari Das finished a distant fourth in 13.86.

Another Malaysian – 2015 Singapore bronze medallist Amir Firdauss Jamaluddin – was sixth and last in 15.64.

The day clearly belonged to Sapto, who was only redesignated from the T37 category (also cerebral palsy) earlier this year.

“I felt that today’s win really came easy and I was quite surprised with my time as well,” said Sapto, who only took up sprinting three years ago.

“I only clocked 11.80 in training. I’m proud to have achieved a new personal best and to represent Indonesia.

“I have been targeting the gold, so it’s great that I have done it in my first Asean Para Games.

“I definitely hope to keep going at the Asian Para Games next year. It would be a dream if I could win a gold medal in front of my home crowd.”

Sapto’s win sparked an Indonesian gold rush as they ended the first day with nine golds in athletics.

The Indonesian camp, who are targeting 36 golds in athletics, also triumphed through Abdul Halim Dalimu (men’s 100m T11), Agustinus Tinabela (men’s 5,000m T12/T13), Yahya (men’s discus F44), Setiyo Budihartant (men’s long jump T46/T47), Endang Sari Sitoru (women’s 100m T12), Putri Aulia (women’s 100m T13), Insan Nurhaida (women’s 100m T36) and Karisma Evi Tiaran (women’s long jump T44).