Other big names set to light up Asean Para Games after Latif’s pullout

PETALING JAYA: Two-time Paralympic champion Abdul Latif Romly (pic) may have pulled out at the last minute but there are plenty of big names to look for as the Asean Para Games get underway in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

The opening ceremony takes place today and the spotlight will shine on the para swimmers and para track and field athletes the following day.

Three-time world champion Ziyad Zolkefli will headline the para track and field team in the absence of Abdul Latif, who made the difficult decision to give up a chance to win a fifth career Asean Para Games gold medal to devote time to his family after becoming a father for the first time.

The 35-year-old Ziyad will be on a mission to win a fifth career Asean Para Games gold medal in the F20 shot putt event after previous wins during the 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2022 editions.

Ziyad is a three-time world champion (2013, 2017, 2024) and three-time Olympic medallist, claiming bronze at London 2012, gold at Rio 2016 and silver at Paris 2024.

The other potential stars in the track and field squad to look for are Rio 2016 Paralympic champion Ridzuan Puzi and Paris 2024 bronze medallist sprinter Eddy Bernard.

Paralympic champion Cheah Liek Hou will be expected to smash his way to gold in the SU5 men’s singles (physically impaired) and men’s doubles events.

In powerlifting, all eyes will be on reigning Paralympic champion and world record holder Bonnie Bunyau Gustin as he makes his Para Asean Games debut in the 80kg category.

In para cycling, Mohd Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin is expected to make a big impact in four cycling events – two track events and two road events.

The Malaysian contingent are targeting 55 gold medals, a higher challenge than the previous edition in Cambodia two years ago, where they claimed 50.

The Asean Para Games will be an early benchmark ahead of two major tournaments this year – the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in July and the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games in October, which will be the real platform to assess the readiness of the country’s athletes towards the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028.

The sports contested at the Asean Para Games include archery, badminton, blind football, boccia, para bowling, goalball, para chess, para judo, para athletics, para cycling, para shooting, para swimming, para table tennis, sitting volleyball, para powerlifting and wheelchair basketball.