Day in para-dise
Newly-paired Rattna and Suraya gel well to clinch gold
Para shuttler Cheah Liek Hou lived up to expectations when he won the SU5 (impairment in upper body) men’s singles and doubles gold at the Thailand Para-badminton International in Bangkok yesterday. Back home in Bukit Kiara, Rattna Aizah Mohd Idris and Suraya Hamzani rolled down the pairs gold in the B8 (physical disabilities) at the second Asia Lawn Bowls Championships.
KUALA LUMPUR: Disabled athletes Rattna Aizah Mohd Idris and Suraya Hamzani trained together for only three days but combined superbly to roll down a gold in the women’s pairs B8 (physical disabilities) in the second Asia Lawn Bowls Championships.
Rattna and Suraya were unstoppable in the final when they defeated the more fancied South Koreans Lee Young-suk-Ku Chun-ja 13-7 at the Bukit Kiara Lawn Bowls Stadium yesterday.
In the semi-finals, the Malaysians had knocked out another Korean pair Kim Seung-hui-Lee Mija 12-6.
With the gold-medal feat yesterday, RattnaSuraya have assured their tickets for the World Championships in New Zealand next year.
The win was also sweet revenge for Rattna as she was beaten 11-21 by Chun-ja in the women’s singles final earlier.
“It’s a surprise win as I only trained together with Suraya three days before the tournament,” said the 59-year-old from Kampar, who is a polio victim.
“And now, we are going for the world meet,” added Rattna, who partnered Norfirzan Mahmud to win a silver in the mixed pairs at the Asian Para Games in Jakarta last year.
For the 49-year Suraya, who has cerebral palsy, it was her best showing in the international stage since she took up the sport 15 years ago.
“I was not selected for the Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2017 and the Asian Para Games last year but I was not disheartened.
“I trained harder and now, I’ve a gold to show in the Asia meet.
“I must thank the more experienced Rattna for guiding me.
“Hopefully, Rattna and I will continue this form in the world meet,” said the bowler from Labuan.
Malaysia ended their campaign in the oneweek Asia meet with a total of five golds, seven silvers and two bronzes.
The other Malaysian gold medal winners are Mohd Shuhairi Shahalil in the men’s singles B8 (physical disabilities); Shuhairi-Mohd Syamil Mohd Fauzi in the men’s pairs B6; Hasmunira Maliki in the women’s singles B3 (visual impairment); and Asmaliza Awang Tuah in the women’s singles B8.
The silver medallists are Mohd Abdillah Mat Rashid (men’s singles B2), Mohd Zulaihi Zainudin (men’s singles B4), Mat Daud Mohd (men’s singles B7), Mohd Syamil (men’s singles B8), Mohd Rafi Muda-Nir Firzan Mahmud (men’s pairs B6), Mohd Abdillah-Nur Aishah Tajudin (mixed pairs B2), Rattna (women’s singles B8) and the bronze medal winners – Mohd Zamrie Hasan (men’s singles B2) and Mohd Rafi (men’s singles B6).
Seven countries took part in the meet and South Korea emerged as the overall champions with a haul of 7-3-4. Malaysia were second (5-7-2) and Hong Kong third (3-4-3).