KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Paralympic Council (MPC) president Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin is confident that there will be no issues with athletes being late at the Paris Paralympics (Aug 28-Sept 8).
Shahriman said since Tokyo 2020, measures had been taken to ensure athletes arrived at their competition venues on time.
Malaysia would have won four gold in Tokyo if not for Ziyad Zolkefli's disqualification in the men's athletics shot put F20 final.
Ziyad had turned up three minutes late to the athletes' call room prior to his event. He was allowed to compete under protest and went on to win.
His protest was, however, rejected after the competition ended, and he was subsequently disqualified.
"Only Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala can guarantee things, however, we have to be optimistic that it will not happen again," said Shahriman when contacted yesterday.
"Why (optimistic)? We have already proven it at the Cambodia Asean Para Games and the Hangzhou Asian Para Games last year.
"Ziyad performed well in Hangzhou and won gold, InsyaAllah, he will do his best in Paris.
"There will be no delays. We are all on our toes.
"We have signed a letter of undertaking, and the coaches and athletes are aware of their responsibilities.
"We have instilled a winning mentality in the team and all the athletes are on track preparation-wise."
Ziyad, who is intellectually challenged, was heartbroken after the incident in Tokyo, but has since come back strong.
In addition to winning gold at last year's Asian Para Games, he claimed his third world title at the Kobe World Championships in May.
Ziyad will be on the hunt for his second Paralympic gold in Paris after winning gold at Rio 2016.
Shahriman is hoping Malaysia will win four gold in Paris.
Besides Ziyad, Latif Romly (athletics long jump), Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (powerlifting) and Cheah Liek Hou (badminton), who had all won gold in Tokyo, are expected to win again in Paris.