National para athletes Ziyad Zolkefli (main pix) and Abdul Latif Romly aim to rewrite their world record at the KL2017 Games in August.
Ziyad, who competes in the F20 shot putt, hurled his way to a new record of 17.29m at the World Para Atheltics Championship in London last month.
He now sets his sight to surpass the 2015 Singapore SEA Games winning distance of 17.47m.
“My personal target is 17.50m. I’m not going to promise any medals but I’m going to give it my best. I don’t plan to put any high expectations on myself.
“If I do get a medal, it’s God’s willing. I’ve worked really hard in training and I do hope this could be the moment to set a new record. It would be a dream come true,” said Ziyad.
Likewise, his compatriot and the world F20 long jump champion Abdul Latif is determined to break his record of 7.60m set at the SEA Games in Rio last year.
“My focus is not on the medals but I plan to break into 7.65m or more. I have been working on the distance and technique to surpass on my own record.
“I’m really excited to compete as it’s my first SEA Games and I’m happy to be a part of it. I want to prove that I can break my own record in the Games,” said Abdul Latif.
Aside from that, the duo had also expressed their gratitute for the overwhelming reception from the able athletes.
“We’re really thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the SEA Games competing alongside the abled athletes.
“It has always been a dream. The feeling is indescribable and it’s more than what we could imagine. There were so few para athletes and in this gathering today, there’s so many of them.
“There’s like 600 people. So to us, it feels like a big contingent and being with all of them felt like we’re part of the family.
“Although the able-athletes know that we’re para athletes but they welcomed us with open arms like a family. We’re really touched and it’s probably one of the best moments of our lives,” said Ziyad. – BY ALVIN OH
