Nur Syaiful aims for a golden splash in Tokyo Paralympics

PETALING JAYA: Muhammad Nur Syaiful Zulkifli (pic) made a big splash as Malaysia’s first Asian Para Games gold medallist in swimming last week. Now, he wants to take on the world’s best at the 2020 Paralympics.

The 23-year-old, who is wheelchair-bound after losing the use of his legs following a motorcycle accident six years ago, is aiming for a medal in Tokyo.

It might be unthinkable one year ago as Nur Syaiful did not even manage to win gold during the Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur.

However, Nur Syaiful has since improved considerably and he was the revelation in the pool for the Malaysian swimming team.

Nur Syaiful’s gold in the men’s 50m freestyle S5 category in Jakarta was the sweetest achievement as he achieved it by beating Vietnamese star Vo Thanh Tung, who bagged silver at the Rio Paralympics two years ago.

He clocked 34.09 to break Thanh Tung’s Asian record of 35.56 held since 2010.

Nur Syaiful also claimed two silvers in the 100m and 200m freestyle distances.

“The Vietnamese is one of the best swimmers in the world and he is also the defending champion,” said Nur Syaiful.

“He won six golds at the last Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea (2014) and already have three golds in the bag in Jakarta, so it is a very satisfying achievement for me.

“I worked very hard to improve my times for the last one year as I wanted to see where I stand in my first Asian Para Games.

“I am happy to break the meet record twice - in the heats and final.

“I feel I can swim faster. I hope I can go for the Tokyo Paralympics and achieve something great for the country,” said Nur Syaiful, the son of a fisherman back in Samarahan, Sarawak.

Nur Syaiful is taking a short break before he prepares for the World Para Swimming Championships in Kuching, Sarawak in July next year.

The swimming team contributed one gold, three silvers and five bronzes at the Asian Para Games.

The Malaysian contingent returned with their best ever showing at the Asian Para Games, winning 17 golds, 26 silvers and 25 bronzes to rank eighth overall.