KUALA LUMPUR: Zuhairie Ahmad Tarmizi was an up-and-coming able-bodied soccer player, but a tragic accident while helping his family sell sugarcane juice changed his fortunes.
While working at his family’s stall at the Marang Pasar Ramadhan in Terengganu in 2012, Zuhairie’s palm got stuck in the sugarcane machine, and it was amputated at the wrist.
His world fell apart, but a call from the National Sports Council (NSC) two years later was the lifeline that he needed.
He entered the world of cycling, something which never crossed his mind before.
Zuhairie made the best of his situation, and on Sunday, won gold for the nation at the Asean Para Games.
It was the race of his life, and he never looked back until clinching the One Kilometre time-trial (C5) title at the Nilai Velodrome.
When met after the race, Zuhairie was wiping his tears of joy, and dedicated the gold to his 7-month-old son Harith Amsyar, who fired his motivation.
"I used to play soccer for T-Team and while on holiday for a month during Ramadhan, I helped my family by selling sugarcane juice at the bazaar.
"That's when I lost my hand in a freak accident. It really broke me, and even though I had never wanted to be a cyclist, when the offer came from the NSC, I accepted it with an open heart.
"For me, one door was closed, but good fortune opened another, and I would like to thank my family for their support. I dedicate this medal to my son, who motivated me to reach higher in life," said the 27-year-old athlete.
Zuhairie has three more medals to chase on Monday: the Road Race, 4,000 metre Individual Pursuit (C5) and Time-Trial (C5).
And he is betting on the 4,000 metre for another spark.
Zuhairie clocked 1 minute 9.690s for the gold, while silver went to Philippine's Bucay Eustaquio Arthus and bronze to Indonesia's Sufyan Saori.