Ridzuan has enough motivation to rule in last Games

Malaysian Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi celebrates as he crossing the finishing line to beating Indonesia Muhamad Agung Laksana (left) for gold medal in the men's 200m T36 final in at National Stadium Bukit Jalil. Zahid Zaini/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Mohd Ridzuan Puzi (pic) wants to make his last Asian Para Games outing a memorable one by winning a double in Hangzhou.

The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games champion has set his eyes on defending the 100m and long jump gold he won in the T35-36 (physical impairment) category at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games.

The 36-year-old also won the 400m gold in Indonesia but is not competing in the event in Hangzhou.

Already in Hangzhou, the athlete fondly known as “Dek Wan” is going into the Games in some good form.

He won the 100m T35-36 race at the 2023 World Para Grand Prix in Tunisia in February.

Ridzuan blazed the track with a time of 12.51s to beat Iraq’s Abdulsattar Challoob (13.04) and Anass Sikouk of Morocco (13.69) at the Rades Athletics Stadium.

It won’t be easy though at the Hangzhou Olympic Stadium, as he will be competing against home favourite Deng Peicheng, 27, who has a season’s best time of 12.06s.

But Ridzuan is ready.

“I have my parents’ prayers with me. I have trained and worked hard and I hope to win a gold, not just in the 100m but also in the long jump,” said the athlete, who is now coached by former national sprinter Hamberi Mahat.

“My spirit is very high. You know how I run. I give it my all. This will be my last Asian Games, and if I do well here, I hope to compete in the Paris Paralympics, which will be my last competitive outing.”

Ridzuan has a personal best of 11.87 in the 100m, which was recorded in the 2018 Para Asian Games in Jakarta, and 5.49m in the long jump, which was also a new mark set in Jakarta.

Besides the success in Indonesia, Ridzuan had also competed in the 2014 Incheon Asian Para Games where he won gold in the long jump and two silvers in the 100m and 200m.

Ridzuan said Hangzhou has been pleasant and even cracked a joke by saying: “The girls here are pretty, I do not want to go back.

“But seriously, the service here has been excellent. The food, accommodation and facilities are good at the stadium.

“I hope I can end my Asian Games career on a high here.”