DRB-Hicom sponsors Paralympics 2016 medallists for Umrah

The four Malaysian medal winners at the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, today left for Mekah to perform Umrah on full sponsorship by conglomerate, DRB-Hicom Bhd.

Also in the entourage for the minor pilgrimage are 15 other individuals comprising the athletes' family members, National Sports Council staff and media representatives.

DRB-Hicom Group Communications head, Mahmood Abdul Razak said the sponsorship was in recognition of the para-athletes' performance that has brought glory to the country at the international sports level.

"This is DRB-Hicom's first contribution to the Paralympic athletes and we hope it will be a catalyst for other athletes to strive towards success for Malaysia in future," he told reporters at the send-off for the group, here, today.

Mohamad Puzi Mat Isa, the father of gold medallist and record holder in the 100m T36 (cerebral palsy) men's event, Mohamad Ridzuan, said his Umrah trip with his son, wife and daughter was a god-send.

"This is our first Umrah...I regard this as a spatter of my son's good luck on the family," he said.

Asked what he would pray for when in the Holy Land, overwhelmed by emotions with his voice breaking, Mohamad Puzi said he would pray that his son, who has a speech problem, to be able to speak better.

Besides Mohd Ridzuan, the other gold medallists are Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli and Abdul Latif Romly, while Siti Noor Radiah Ismail won a bronze medal at the Paralympics in August.

The group's 12-day Umrah trip is handled by Tradewinds Travel Services. - BERNAMA