Fatherhood and family first for Latif as he skips Asean Para Games

Bundle of joy: Datuk Abdul Latif Romly has become a father a day before he was due to leave for the Asean Para Games in Thailand.

PETALING JAYA: The Asean Para Games starting in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, on Tuesday will be without one of its high profile stars as reigning world champion Datuk Abdul Latif Romly is not going for a fifth gold medal bid after becoming a father for the first time.

Her wife Datin Nurul Nabila Farhana Musaidi gave birth to their first child on Friday night and the new dad decided to skip the Asean Para Games a day before departing.

Abdul Latif pulled out from the para long jump competition so that he can devote his time fully to his family.

Latif thus wished the Malaysian contingent good luck and is confident they will give their best to deliver in his absence.

The 28-year-old para long jumper soared to his fifth world title at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi in October last year, setting a new T20 world record with a massive 7.67m leap – eclipsing his own previous mark of 7.64m set in 2018.

The two-time Paralympic champion from Perlis has won gold in his category at the Asean Para Games four times.

Malaysia are banking on athletics, swimming, bowling and cycling to power their push for a 55-gold medal target at the Asean Para Games.

At the last edition in Cambodia in 2023, Malaysia finished fourth with a haul of 50 gold, 38 silver and 35 bronze medals.

The Games will be held without Cambodia, who pulled out of both the SEA Games and Asean Para Games following border clashes with Thailand.

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.