Doriah beats new scoring system to rule pet event

DORIAH Poulus knew she was at a disadvantage in the javelin F42-F44 (amputation) event at the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games.

But the Sabahan did not let that hold her back as she claimed the gold at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

The new scoring system means that athletes from the lower number class (bigger disability) have the advantage against athletes with lesser disability in combined field events.

The 30-year-old Doriah, who is in the F44 class, found herself on the losing end in the discus on Tuesday.

Although she hurled the discus furthest – 28.15m – she still had to settle for the bronze because Indonesian Warmia Marto Samid (26.66m) and Vietnam’s Vo Thi Thu Thuan (23.01m) were from the F42 class.

This time, there was no stopping Doriah as javelin is her favourite event.

She threw to a distance of 31.1m in her sixth and final attempt and it was good enough to give her the gold.

Warmia (22.76m) settled for the silver while Thu Thuan (18.23m) took the bronze.

“Javelin is my favourite event but I didn’t dare think too much because of the scoring system,” said the Keningau native, who was born with a deformed right foot.

“I’m really glad that my final throw sealed the gold for me.

“I’ve always won gold at the Asean Para Games since making my debut in 2011. This gold also makes up for my disappointment in discus.

“I have one more event tomorrow (today) in shot putt. Hopefully I can do well again.”

Doriah won the bronze in shot putt at the 2014 Incheon Asian Para Games in South Korea.

The scoring system also denied Sarawakian Richard Bada the gold in the men’s shot putt F40/F41 (short stature).

The 24-year-old, who hails from a family of seven siblings, including five who are of short stature, hurled the shot putt the furthest – 8.71m.

But Richard, who is in the F41 class, only won a bronze. Vietnamese Tran Van Nguyen (8.37m) and Singapore’s Muhd Diroy Noordin (7.55m), who are in the F40 class, won the gold and silver.

“I’m still proud of my effort. This is the first time I’m competing in the Games and I believe I made my family and country proud,” said Richard.

Malaysia ended the fourth day of athletics with six golds.

Besides Doriah, the other golds were won by Ziyad Zolkelfi (men’s shot putt F20), Mohd Hisham Khaironi (men’s javelin F12/F13), Muhd Hafiz Abu Bakar (men’s discus F36/ F37), Jonathan Wong Kar Gee (men’s long jump T11/T12) and Adderin Majurin (men’s shot putt F32/F33/F34).