KUALA LUMPUR: Hopes of recapturing the gold medal he won at Rio 2016 failed to materialise but Ziyad Zolkefli was still able to walk away with a commendable silver at the Paris Paralympics yesterday (Sept 3).
Ziyad finished second in the men's shot put F20 (intellectual impairment) on 17.18 metres, which he achieved on his second attempt, at Stade de France.
Ukraine's Oleksandr Yarovyi was just too good on the day as he broke the world record twice after notching 17.60 and 17.61 in his third and fourth attempts to win gold.
The former world record of 17.57m had been set by his compatriot Maksym Koval last year.
Koval, gold medallist at Tokyo 2020, was forced to settle for bronze this time on 16.99m.
Ziyad, whose nickname is The Smiling Giant, nevertheless appeared grateful to win silver and prostrated in gratitude at the end of the event.
In the men's long jump T37 (physical impairment) Nazmi Nasri settled for fifth on 6.0m which he achieved on his second attempt.
Argentina's Brian Impellizzeri clinched the gold on 6.42m while Kenya's Samson Opiyo (6.20m) and Brazil's Mateus Evangelista (6.20m) claimed silver and bronze.
Earlier yesterday in boccia, mixed pair BC4 (physical impairment) duo Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim-Abdul Razzaq Abdul Rahman opened their campaign in pool A on a positive note.
The pair defeated Colombia's Leidy Chica-Edilson Chica 5-2 before edging Ukraine's Artem Kolinko-Nataliia Konenko 5-4.