PETALING JAYA: Ziyad Zolkefli made Malaysia proud after regaining his world title in the Para Athletics World Championship in Kobe, Japan today.
The 34-year-old's final throw of 17.43m in the men's shot putt F20 category proved enough to secure nation's first gold medal in the world para meet at Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium.
Ziyad's winning effort was also a new Asian record and personal best. The Selangor-born para athlete previously threw 17.29m at the world para athletics meet back in 2017 in London.
It is thus the third world title for Ziyad as he also won in the 2013 edition in Lyon.
The former Paralympic champion settled for silver in the 2023 edition in Paris last year.
Soane Luka Meissonnier of France claimed silver with 15.92m.
Ecuador's Congo Villalba took bronze with 15.80m.
Malaysia thus have one gold, one silver and one bronze to show so far.
The silver came from Eddy Barnard in men's T44 100m and bronze was won by Wong Kar Gee in men's T12 long jump.
