... And they are back with gold too
Shot putter accepts Khairy’s challenge to win the gold
Shot putt champion Ziyad Zolkefli and long jump champion Abdul Latif Romly flew home to a grand welcome after retaining their T20 (learning disability) titles at the World Para Athletics Championships in London. Ziyad broke his own world record at the meet while Abdul Latif bettered his own championship mark, falling short of his world record. Also with them was 100m T30 (celebral palsy) silver medallist Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi.
SEPANG: Two-time world para athletics champion Ziyad Zolkefli has accepted Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s challenge to win the shot putt gold at next month’s Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.
At the World Para Athletics Championships in England last week, Ziyad broke his own world record on his way to reclaim the men’s shot putt F20 (learning disability) gold. He was also the champion in the 2013 edition in Lyon, France.
He hurled 17.29m to erase the previous world mark of 16.84m he set en route to bagging the gold at last year’s Rio Paralympics.
And Ziyad is ready to raise the bar again by improving the world record at the Aug 19-30 Games against the able-bodied athletes.
Ziyad’s 17.29m mark is not far off the gold-winning 17.47m effort by Thailand’s Promrob Juntima at the Singapore Games in 2015.
“My best is yet to come. I believe there’s still a lot left in me,” said Ziyad after returning home from London yesterday.
“I always have high expectations on myself. Pushing myself is the only way to improve ... like I did at the World Championships.
“Winning the gold is a perfect build- up for the Games. Hopefully I can carry this momentum into next month and make history twice at the Games.
“As a para athlete, I’m already creating history. But I hope to achieve one more – that’s being the first para athlete to win the gold. I’ll certainly give my best shot,” said Ziyad.
Early this month, Khairy challenged Ziyad and Abdul Latif Romly, who retained his world long jump T20 (learning disability), to defy the odds to triumph at the Games.
In London, Abdul Latif cleared 7.37m to better his own championship mark of 7.35m which he set en route to the gold in the 2015 edition in Doha, Qatar.
But Abdul Latif was far from pleased with his performance.
He created a world record by clearing 7.60m on his way to win the gold at the Rio Paralympics.
“I’m happy to retain my gold but I could have done better. But given that the world meet was only my second competition of the year, I think I can still improve,” said Abdul Latif.
“I hope to make amends at the Games and try to win a medal for the country.”