National athletes can learn fighthing spirit qualities from paralympic athletes - Chong Wei

World number one shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei urged all national athletes to emulate the fighting spirit shown by Paralympic athletes at the Rio Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

He said although they are not normal athletes, but the spirit shown by them shows how determined and focused they are.

"Not only me but all athletes should learn from our Paralympic athletes. We need the spirit of those who fought for the gold, broke the world and Paralympic records...They are incredible," he said after attending a ceremony hosted by 100plus to give incentives to five badminton players who won silver medals at the Rio Olympics recently.

Chong Wei said the Paralympic athletes who had won gold deserved to be given RM1 million as incentive by the government.

"They deserved it, they trained very hard, and it is more difficult than ours. There are athletes on wheelchair or using only one arm...but their fighting spirit is what we need to learn," he said.

Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi won the first gold medal for the country in the 100m T36 (cerebral palsy) event and the second gold was won by Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli in the Mens Shot Put F20 (intellectual disability) event with a new world record.

Abdul Latif Romly secured the countrys third gold in the long jump T20 (learning disability) category, also with a new world record.

During the ceremony, 100 Plus marketing manager, Leong Wai Yin announced lifetime free supply of isotonic drinks and incentives totaling RM150,000 to the five shuttlers.

Chong Wei received RM50,000 while the men's doubles pair Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong and the mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying received RM50,000 per pair. -- BERNAMA