KUALA LUMPUR: National Para athlete Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli got a special birthday gift when he won gold in the men’s F13/20/46 mixed category of the shot put event at the 10th Fazza International Athletics Championship – World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Ziyad who was born on March 15, 1990, celebrated his 28th birthday by powering a winning throw of 16.42m in his fifth attempt.
The athlete who competes in the F20 category (learning disability) already showed that he meant business early on with a first throw of 16.30m which left other competitors trailing, with silver medalist Dimitrios Senikidis of Greece only managing a throw of 15.27m.
Bronze went to Butucea Vladimir of Moldovia with a throw of 10.78m.
Meanwhile, Mohd Saifuddin Ishak also did Malaysia proud after he won bronze in the T12/13/46/47 category of the long jump event.
Mohd Saifuddin who competes in the T12 class (visual impairment) had a best jump of 6.69m which was recorded during his fourth attempt.
Gold went to Kazakhstan’s Salimov Islam with a jump of 6.93m, while silver went to Japan’s Hajimu Ashida (6.61m).