Eljoe leaps to second gold, Arisya gets pleasant shock

PETALING JAYA: Para Sukma (Malaysia Games) teenage debutants Eljoe Gotuoh and Nur Arisya earned the cheers for Sabah and Perlis respectively with golden performances in athletics at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.

Eljoe romped to his second gold medal in the triple jump event in the T20 (intellectual disability) category with a distance of 13.71m in Bukit Jalil.

The 18-year-old from Tuaran, Sabah, had won his first gold medal in the long jump on Friday.

“I’m very happy to have won two golds in the Games, it gets me fired up,” said Eljoe.

He aims to compete in the the Cambodia Asean Para Games next year and also the next Para Sukma in Johor in 2024.

“I think I’m performing very well now. If I can continue this momentum, I’m sure I can take part in those Games,” he added.

Eljoe got involved in athletics when he was 13 and trained in the triple jump for five years.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Nur Arisya savoured her first Para Sukma gold medal in the T20 (intellectual disability) 1,500m event.

“I’m very excited and shocked that I won my first ever gold medal in the Para Sukma even though I had aimed to win the event.”

Like Eljoe, she is also targeting to compete in the Cambodia Asean Para Games.

RESULTS

Men

Triple jump T20: 1. Eljoe Gotuoh (Sab) 13.71m 2. Nik Mohd Rahmat (Kel) 12.42m 3. Alexaus Joel (Swk) 12.31m.

Women

1,500m run T20: 1. Nur Arisya (Prk) 6.00.16, 2. Siti Insyirah (Joh) 6.21.66, 3. Siti Zainab (Kel) 6.24.91.