Siti Noor Radiah hopes to send parents for haj

National paralympian Siti Noor Radiah Ismail is grateful over the doubling of the incentive to RM200,000 from RM100,000 after winning a bronze medal at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro recently.

She wants to use part of the incentive she would be receiving to send her parents to perform the haj.

The additional incentive for Siti Noor Radiah was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during a ceremony to receive the national paralympic contingent at the KL International Airport's Bunga Raya Complex (KLIA) on Thursday.

The 23-year-old athlete from Segamat, Johor reaped the unexpected bronze medal in the women's T20 long jump event (intellectual disability) at the Olympic Stadium on Sept 15.

Siti Noor Radiah jumped 5.20m on her third attempt to erase her Asia Para Sport record of 5.10m in Incheon, South Korea in 2014.

Via the Athletes Incentive Scheme (SHAKAM), the incentive for a gold medal is RM1 million, silver medal (RM300,000) and bronze medal (RM100,000).

Meanwhile, the national paralympic heroes and heroines felt elated and greatly appreciated when they were given an extraordinary welcome home upon their arrival.

"I was very shocked at the reception by Malaysians. I did not expect such a merry welcome," said Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli when met by Bernama at a thanksgiving ceremony at the Paralympic Excellence Centre in Kampung Pandan here last night.

According to the winner of the gold medal in the F20 shot putt (intellectual disability), yesterday's welcome home was vastly different as compared to four years ago.

He said after winning the bronze medal in London in 2012, the reception was not as lively as the one held today.

"I wish to thank all Malaysians who gathered to fete us. Their support is much appreciated," said the 26-year-old athlete from Gombak, Selangor. -- BERNAMA