Set new records at 2017 KL SEA Games, ASEAN Para Games - Khairy

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has challenged medalists at Rio Paralympic Games to set new records at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games.

He believed that gold medalists, Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi, Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli and Abdul Latif Romly could set new records and match the achievement of normal athletes.

"Ridzuan has to run the 100m T36 in 11 seconds at the ASEAN Para Games, Ziyad can throw 17 metres while Latif should be able to create a new long jump record in the SEA Games.

"Bronze medalist Siti Noor Radiah needs to do better at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games," he said at the handover of incentives by Naza Group to the medalists at Menara Naza in Persiaran KLCC here, today.

At the Paralympic Games in September, Ridzuan won the 100m T36 with a time of 12.07 seconds while Ziyad threw 16.84 metres in the F20 shot putt.

Latif leapt 7.60 metres in the T20 long jump while Siti Noor Radiah leapt 5.20 metres in the women's long jump.

Meanwhile, Khairy advised the paralympic medal winners to properly manage the incentives received from the government and the private sector.

"Do not be misled by the title millionaire, do not forget your origin."

Malaysian Paralympic Council president SM Nasirudin SM Nasimuddin hopes the paralympic athletes can replicate the Rio success in Tokyo four years from now.

SM Nasirudin, who is also Naza Group chief executive officer said the golden trio each received a Trion 888 suite in Equine Park and a Kia Sportage while bronze medalist Siti Noor Radiah received a Kia Rio.

"We also rewarded three paralympic coaches, R.Jaganathan, Faizol Mohd Harun and Mohd Syahrul Amri Mohd Suhaimi for moulding the champions," he added.

Naza Corporation Holdings provided incentives worth a total of RM1.5 million to the national paralympic athletes. -- Bernama