HANGZHOU: Athlete Muhammad Ammar Aiman Nor Azmi (pix) is delighted that the three months he spent away from his family in Pontian, Johor paid off in style when he bagged Malaysia’s sixth gold medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Para Games (APG).
The 21-year-old said there is no better feeling than returning from his maiden Asian Para Games and showing off the gold medal to his family and friends in his hometown.
In the men’s 400-metre (m) T20 (intellectual impairment) final at the Huang Long Sports Centre Stadium, Ammar Aiman delighted the national athletics camp by hitting the tape first in 47.60 seconds (s).
What made his achievement even more remarkable is that it broke the previous Games record of 49.32s set by compatriot Nasharuddin Mohd and the Asian record of 47.80s set by Iran’s Torkamani Milad Ramazani. Ironically, Nasharuddin and Torkamani Milad also took part in today’s final.
“Delighted with the gold medal. Faced many challenges… I am satisfied that all the hard work I put in, including not going back to Pontian, paid off. Can’t wait to go back to meet them all,” he told Bernama.
Indonesia’s Alfin Nomleni (49.07s) and Torkamani Milad (50.43s) took silver and bronze respectively. –Bernama