KUALA LUMPUR: Sprinter Afiq Ali Hanafiah will face a tough task in repeating the feat he achieved in Para Sukma Games in Ipoh four years ago.
The Johor-born runner stole the limelight in 2018 by breaking three Sukma records en-route to win golds in T12 (partially blind) in 100m, 200m and 400m.
He clocked 11.45 in 100m, 23.27 in 200m and 55.11 in 400m in Ipoh.
The 28-year-old Afiq, who is suffering from visual impairment since two years old, said that it would be tough to shatter three records en-route to win three golds in this year's Games, which will be held at the National Sports Council (NSC) Training Track in Bukit Jalil from Nov 3-6.
"I have not competed in any competition since the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in August. In Birmingham, I only ran in 100m and did a personal best of 11.10 to finish fourth in the final.
"And I have not run in the 200m and 400m events since I won gold in the Para Games in Ipoh four years ago," said Afiq, who will be competing in his sixth consecutive Para Sukma since Melaka in 2010.
"To make matters worse, I have to run three events in three days. I have to run in the heats in the morning and final in the afternoon in 100m on Nov 3, 400m on Nov 4 and 200m on Nov 5.
"It definitely will take a toll on my body and also on my performance," said Afiq.
"However, I am optimistic that I will be able to improve my 100m Sukma record as I have done a personal best of 11.10 in Birmingham.
"I have been focusing more on 100m in training as my aim is to qualify for the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris.
"The minimum qualifying mark for men's T12 is 11.50 but I need to clock a much better time in the 100m in Para Sukma to confirm my place for the meet in Paris. The meet in Paris is also the qualifying for 2024 Paralympics," said Afiq, who was training under long distance coach Ahmad Rafee Ariffin early this year.
But a month ago Afiq got a sprints coach and former national sprinter Hamberi Mahat to train for Para Sukma.
"I am happy to train under coach Hamberi as he has been focusing more on my speed in training. With his guidance I hope to improve my personal best of 11.10 in Para Sukma," said Afiq, who timed 11.28 in 100m to win the bronze medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.