APG 2022: Latif soars high above his peers to claim gold in Hangzhou

HANGZHOU - Datuk Abdul Latif Romly, winner of two Paralympic gold medals, added another feather to his cap by winning the men’s long jump T20 (intellectual impairment) gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, here today.

The multiple world record holder in the event, leaped 7.18m to present the fourth gold medal of the games to the Malaysian contingent and the second gold to the athletics camp.

Just like his compartriot Ziyad from the athletics camp, Abdul Latif also achieved an unprecedented third consecutive gold medal to complete a hattrick of gold medals throughout his participation in the APG.

In the competition held at the Huanglong Sports Centre Stadium, 2016 and 2020 Paralympics gold medallist in Brazil and Tokyo respectively, cleared 7.18m in his fourth attempt while team mate Zulkifly Abdullah managed a bronze with a distance of 6.48m.

Saudi Arabia’s Hassan Nasser Dawshi took the silver with a distance of 6.80m.

"I am grateful and happy to have won the gold medal for the third consecutive games. In fact I had targetted the gold medal but never had any intention of going for the record because I was not in the best shape,” he told Bernama.

"I was just utilising 50 percent of my energy because I did not want to push myself to the limit as there are two major competitions next year, namely the World Championships and 2024 Paralympics in Paris,” he said.

The athletics camp had earlier celebrated the gold medal won by shot put ace Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli. - BERNAMA