KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 – Where the able-bodied failed to deliver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Malaysia can count on their para-athletes to strike gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics from Aug 24-Sept 5 in the Land of the Rising Sun.
And there is every possibility Malaysia can improve on their three-gold, one bronze haul at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
After five years, the Malaysian para-athletes are ready to roar again after Malaysia failed miserably at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with only a silver through Datuk Azizulhasni Awang in cycling (keirin) and Aaron Chia-So Wooi Yik in badminton (men’s doubles).
It was a far cry from the four-silvers and a bronze won at the Rio Olympics with the silvers coming from Datuk Lee Chong Wei (men’s singles); Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong (men’s doubles); Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (mixed doubles); and Cheong Jun Hoong-Pandelela Rinong (women’s synchronized 10m platform). The bronze was from Azizulhasni (cycling men’s keirin).In the Rio Paralympics, Malaysia’s historic gold was from Ziyad Zolkefli (shot put T20), Ridzuan Puzi (100m T36); and Abdul Latif Romly (long jump T20) while Siti Noor Radiah Ismail (long jump T20) returned with a bronze.
Chef de Mission to the Tokyo Paralympics is Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin. The three-gold target in Tokyo remains but is counting on a better haul in Tokyo.
Ziyad, Ridzuan and Abdul Latif are gold targets but Malaysia has not ruled on gold strikes from powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (men’s 72kg category), archer S. Suresh, Cheah Liek Hou and Didin Taresoh (both badminton).
Malaysia is represented by 22 para athletes and will compete in athletics, cycling, swimming, achery, badminton, boccia, powerlifting, table tennis and wheelchair tennis. Some of the athletes are already in Tokyo.
Bonnie and Siti Nooriasah Mohamad Arifin have been picked as flag bearers at the opening ceremony that will be held at the Tokyo Olympics Stadium.
About The Author
