KUALA LUMPUR: The National Paralympic Contingent to Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games athletes are set to bring glory at the international multi-sport event, which will take place from Aug 24 to Sept 5.
Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) president Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin (pix) said the council wants to defend or improve on the three gold medals won at the last Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
"There may be a surprise in the Paralympic Games, there may be gold medals from unexpected athletes and sports events,” he told reporters when met at the launch of 100 Days to Tokyo countdown at the National Sports Council (MSN), Bukit Jalil, yesterday.
Without disclosing the names, he said many Paralympic athletes have achieved their personal best, and the final target of gold medals will be announced by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.
The three athletes who bagged gold medals at the 2016 Paralympic Games were Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi (100m event T36), Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli (shot put F20) and Abdul Latif Romly (long jump T20).
In the meantime, he disclosed that PCM has also received a special sponsorship from the mayor of Miyoshi in Hiroshima, Japan.
"The contingent will be heading to Japan 10 days earlier than the original schedule and will stay in Miyoshi before moving into the athletes’ village in Tokyo,” he said.
At the event, Megat D Shahriman was also officially appointed as head of the Malaysian Contingent for the 2020 Paralympic Games.- Bernama
