KUALA LUMPUR: Sprinter Raduan Emeari has apologised to Ridzuan Puzi after failing to win the gold in the men's 400m T36 (cerebral palsy) event at the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games today.
Raduan had some big shoes to fill after Ridzuan, a gold medallist at the Rio Paralympics last year, was forced to pull out of the games yesterday due to dengue fever.
The 35-year-old finished second in the event (64.20 seconds) at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. Indonesian Agung Laksana took the gold (61.11s) while Raduan's teammate Reza Rashid (71.70s) was third.
"Ridzuan was supposed to compete in this event and I really wanted to step up and do well in his absence. We always want to do the best and win gold for Malaysia," said Raduan.
"I am sorry Ridzuan, this is the best I could do."
Raduan, who is competing in his eighth Asean Para Games, however, said it was a positive improvement over his performance at the Singapore games two years ago.
"I could only manage three bronze in Singapore but I have already won two silver which is a positive.
"If given the chance to compete in Manila (2019 Asean Para Games), we will do our best to win the medals we lost to Indonesia here."
Raduan had also finished second in the 100m yesterday, which Agung had also won. Ridzuan had won the event in Singapore.
Translated from Harian Metro