Pitfalls ahead: Ziyad Zolkefli knows he has to deal with several new faces capable of challenging his domination.
PETALING JAYA: National para shot putter Ziyad Zolkefli will be out to avoid all pitfalls in a bid to retain his gold in the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou.
The 33-year-old won gold in the 2014 Incheon and 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games in the T20 class (Intellectual disability), which has now been renamed F20.
The old-timer, however, knows he has to deal with several new faces capable of challenging his domination.
Not only that, he said his teammate Alif Mohamad Awi could also pose a threat to him in the competition, which will be held at the Olympic Stadium on Oct 24.
“I aim to win but this is not about me being overconfident. It is just a dream of any athlete. You compete to win,” he said.
“In my case, there is an extra motivation because I am aiming for my third consecutive gold in the Asian Games.
“There are many new athletes competing in my category this time, so I’ll have to be wary.
“Even my training mate Alif is set to be a challenger too.”
Ziyad also wants to atone for his disqualification from the Paralympics in Tokyo in 2020.
“I have moved on from that debacle but it will be nice to get back on top of the podium.”
At the Paralympics, he hurled a personal best of 17.94m to win the gold but was later disqualified because he had shown up late for the competition.
This season, his best throw was 17.30m, which he recorded en route to the bronze medal win at the Cambodia SEA Games.
He also secured a spot at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games after winning silver with a throw of 17.21m, at the 2023 World Championships in Paris in July.
The success also made Ziyad the first Malaysian para-athlete to qualify on merit for the Paralympics.
Ziyad is already in Hangzhou.
“The weather is good and the Games Village is excellent. I am adapting well.
“I am impressed with the facilities here.
“I have also started training with Alif, to adapt to the track and field a conditions in Hangzhou. I just can’t wait to compete.”
