Merdeka Day heartbreak for Ziyad

 

Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli failed in his bid to win his second straight gold medal at the Paralympics when he was disqualified. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: It was heartbreak for national paralympian Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Games when he hurled the shot put to a world record-breaking distance, only to be disqualified on a technicality.

While the details are not clear, it was reported that Ziyad has been disqualified on a technical issue.

Earlier, Ziyad put in a sensational performance to break several records to rise above the competition for the gold medal.

Not only did he break his own world record twice in Tokyo today, he also smashed the national able-bodied record for the event with a throw of 17.94 metres.

However, his disqualification means he was unable to defend the gold medal he won at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The national shot put record stays with Adi Alifuddin Hussin, who managed 17.54 at the Palembang SEA Games in 2011.

Following his heroics in Rio where he broke the world record with a throw of 16.84m to win gold, Ziyad smashed his own record a year later with a throw of 17.29m at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London.

Today, in his five throws, Ziyad outdid himself first with a throw of 17.31m and later the stunning 17.94m.

Malaysia now has a gold and a silver from Tokyo.

Bonnie Bunyau Gustin won gold in the men’s 72kg powerlifting event while Jong Yee Khie bagged silver in the men’s 107kg powerlifting event - FMT