Para shot putter Ziyad throws down the gauntlet on able-bodied rivals

KUALA LUMPUR: National para shot putter Muhd Ziyad Zolkefli (pic) is ready to take on his able-bodied counterparts at the Thailand Open Championships in Bangkok from May 18-21.

Ziyad, who underwent a one-month intensive training under renowned German coach Khalid Alqawati in Mannheim last month, said that he is mentally and physically prepared for the challenge.

He will be among four para athletes to feature in the three-day meet. The others are Abdul Latif Romly (long jump), Mohamad Ridzuan Puzi (100m) and Siti Noor Radiah Ismail (women’s long jump).

The 29-year-old Ziyad said that he has been struggling to come close to his personal best of 17.29m.

“In the Perak All-Comers in February, I only managed 15.75m to win gold,” said Ziyad.

“But after training under Khalid, I feel I’m ready to make a decent throw in Bangkok.

“I also feel more confident about my throws after the stint,” added Ziyad, who won gold in the 2016 Rio Paralympics in the men’s F20 (intellectual impairment).

Ziyad, who broke the world record at the World Para Athletics Championships in London in 2017 with 17.29m, added that he would be more than pleased if he can hit the 17m mark in Bangkok.

“Hopefully, competing against able-bodied athletes will push me to greater heights. The Thailand meet is also part of my preparation for the World Para Championships (Dubai, Nov 7-15).

“My mission this year is to win my third gold in the world meet and also rewrite my world record,” said Ziyad.

He won gold in the World Para Championships in Lyon in 2013 and two years later in Doha, he bagged a bronze.

At the 2017 meet in London, he broke his own world record en route to the gold.

National para athletics chief coach R. Jaganathan said they are sending the quartet to Thailand as there are hardly any competitions for them in the region.