Para swimmer Zadrian launches Tokyo 2020 quest in Brisbane
KUALA LUMPUR: Para swimmer Zadrian Zhi Weng Chan is only 17 but he is already aiming big.
The Penangite is aiming for a spot at next year’s Tokyo Paralympic Games and his quest begins tomorrow when he competes at the INAS Global Games in Brisbane.
The intellectual impairment athlete will compete in a whopping eight events – 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 1,500m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke.
But Zadrian will put extra focus in his pet event, the 100m backstroke, to beat the Paralympics qualifying mark of 1:04.40.
He featured at the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore in April and clocked a personal best of 1:07.00.
The cheerful Zadrian, who is trained by his father Allen Chan, was only 15 when he bagged two silvers and two bronzes at the KL Asean Games.
“I’ve made steady progress since then and my goal in life is to feature in the Paralympics.
“I did a personal best in Singapore and I believe I have the ability to do better in Brisbane and earn my ticket,” said Zadrian.
Competing in eight events will certainly take a toll on Zadrian but Allen said that the 100m backstroke event is on the first day and it would not affect his overall performance.
“The heats will be in the morning and the final in the evening, so my son can focus on qualifying for the Paralympics.”
Malaysia will be represented by 12 athletes in three sports – athletics, swimming and table tennis – in the eight-day Games which ends on Oct 19.
The other swimmers taking part are Anas Zul Amirul Sidi, Chung Wei Yoong, Ethan Yin Jun Khoo and Mohd Adib Iqbal Abdullah.
Athletics are represented by Mohd Nurdin Ibrahim (800m), Nani Shahiera Zawawai (long jump), Nasharudin Mohd (400m), Siti Nor Iasah Mohd Ariffin (400m) and Zulkifly Abdullah (long jump).
The two table tennis players are Jennahtul Fahmi Ahmad Jennah and Mohd Hazlin Abdullah.