Abdul Latif retains gold hattrick in T20 long jump

KUALA LUMPUR: Paralympian Abdul Latif Romly displayed his tenacity at home ground when he clinched a gold medal in the men's T20 long jump for the third consecutive time in the men's T20 long jump event at the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games (APG 2017) at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium today.
The Rio 2016 Paralympics gold medalist executed a jump of 7.41m at the first attempt and the distance recorded was merely 0.02m from the distance of 7.43m made at the 2015 edition in Singapore, which still remained a record of the games.
Singapore's athlete Suhairi Suhani brought home the silver medal after reaching 6.85m while another national athlete, Zulkifly Abdullah had to be contented with a bronze medal after a 6.51m jump.
The victory saw Abdul Latif retaining the gold medal in the same event since the 2014 edition in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.
Abdul Latif, when met by reporters, was satisfied with the victory while thanking the Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and wife, Nori Abdullah who were present to lend him their support.
"I am very pleased and pleasantly surprised because many have come to give their support to me, especially the Raja Muda of Perlis and it spurs me to do my best on home ground.
"This gold (medal) is for my family for being willing to come from Perlis just to lend their support to me today," said Abdul Latif.
The 2016 National Sportsman said he would take a rest for two weeks after the games and then continue with his intensive training for the 2018 Asia Para Games in Indonesia.
He is aiming to defend the gold won in the 2014 edition in Incheon, South Korea. — Bernama