At the IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha, Abdul Latif succeeded in winning the gold medal and simultaneously creating a new championship record in the T20 (learning problem/intellectual disability) long jump by recording 7.35 metres.
Advertisement
When asked about his plans after receiving RM1 million as incentives from the government for his golden feat, the men’s long jump T20 (learning disability) victor said he wanted to build a house and send his parents to perform the umrah.
The Perlis teenager, who will also be given a lifetime monthly allowance of RM5,000 through the National Sports Council’s incentive scheme, said he also plans to set aside money awarded for savings.
“I would also like to wish all Malaysians Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha”, the English daily quoted him as saying.
Abdul Latif, whose parents are Romly Mat and Salmah Yatim, won the third gold medal for Malaysia at the Rio Paralympics.
Abdul Latif, 19, from Kangar, broke the long jump T20 (learning disability) category with a 7.60m jump in his fifth attempt at the Olympic Stadium in Rio today.
His previous world record of 7.35m was set at the IPC World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar a year ago.
His first attempt was deemed to be a fault, but Latif bounced back by clocking 7.47m in his second attempt, breaking the world record for the first time.
“I am very happy and grateful to have won. Well done, Abdul Latif You have free flights for life”, the airline’s chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes tweeted on his official account on Sunday morning.
Advertisement
Malaysia clinched the first gold medal via Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi in the men’s 100m T36 (cerebral palsy) event with a time of 12.07 seconds which rewrote the previous Paralympic record of 12.25s by Roman Pavlyk of Ukraine set in Beijing in 2008.
