Ziyad Zolkifli
Paralimpik 2016: 'Hadiah Saya Untuk Kalian' - Ziyad Zolkefli
Kuey teow seller to Malaysian gold medalist
BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, 11 Sept 2016:
Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli Othman, a former kuey teow seller in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman here, has propelled himself to the top of the world by clinching Malaysia’s second gold medal with a new world record at the Rio Paralympics in Brazil.
“I wish to thank the people of Malaysia who have supported me all these years, especially my family, friends, coaches, Malaysian Paralympic Council, National Sports Institute, National Sports Council and my supporters.
“This is a win for all of you…this is the blessing of my prayers. Once again thanks a million,” he said through a video clip.
His elated father Zolkefli Othman said his son had promised to dedicate his gold medal in the shot putt event to the family and the country.
Personally, the gold medal was a present for Zolkefli’s 62nd birthday on Sept 1 – which coincided with the day he had sent his son to the KL International Airport to join the Malaysian Paralympic contingent before leaving to Rio de Janeiro.
Muhammad Ziyad, 26, also created a new world record in the men’s shot putt F20 (intellectual disability) event with a throw of 16.84m in his fifth attempt at the prestigious meet yesterday.
In fact, Ziyad had already set a new world record in his very first attempt with a distance of 16.4m.
“When I sent Ziyad to KLIA on Sept 1, which was on my birthday, he promised to bring back a gold medal. We are very happy for him.”
Another national Paralympic athlete, Mohamad Ridzuan Mohd Puzi had clinched the country’s first Paralympic gold medal in the men’s 100m T36 (cerebral palsy) event.
Zolkefli said parents with children like Muhammad Ziyad should always engage their children as they have extraordinary abilities.
Commenting further, he said: “Ziyad does not like to trouble people, he is very independent and is a very good cook. Before he joined the National Sports Council, Ziyad was selling kuey teow in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
“Ziyad did not give up easily and was always working hard ever since he was in school. Ziyad is not afraid of hard work for when he was in Sekolah Menengah Teknik Tanah Merah in Kelantan, he built houses during his school holidays, said Zolkefli.
Ziyad, the eldest of four siblings was involved in sports when he was in the primary and secondary school, he said.
“I still remember when my son was taught to read when he was in Year Five by an Indian teacher until he got number three in the class.
“Ziyad is surrounded by people who love him, his sporting talent was spotted and assisted by a Chinese teacher in Kelantan. Until today, the teacher still follows his development.
“This is what sports is all about. There is no race or religion. Hard work pays off. I wish to thank all the people and kind hearts who supported him and prayed for his success. All his hard work and sacrifices has been rewarded.”
To achieve his ambition to be a top world athlete, Muhammad Ziyad even quit college.
The national Paralympian decided to discontinue his studies at a private college after getting an offer from the National Sports Council to become a full time athlete.
His mother Siti Arfah Abdul Rashid said her eldest son had been interested in sports since his school days and he was winning at school or even district championships.
Even though Siti Arfah did not agree with Muhamad Ziyad’s decision initially, she prayed for his success and supported the move made by Muhamad Ziyad, now aged 26.
“I told him sports did not hold much prospects for the future, Ziyad needs a certificate to obtain regular employment but my son was insistent on becoming an athlete.
“Even though Ziyad is unlike others, he has his own plans. I am proud of him. Ziyad is diligent and does not like to trouble people.”
Siti Arfah said the success of winning a gold medal also meant Muhammad Ziyad would proceed with his marriage with Zafirah Nasir in November.
Meanwhile, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said the state government would be rewarding Muhammad Ziyad in recognition of the Selangor-born athlete’s paralympic feat to bring honours to the state and country.
“I noted how happy the people of Selangor are when our athlete from Gombak won a gold medal. Insya-Allah after Aidiladha, we will discuss recognition for the gold medalist.”
Ziyad's determination pays off with Paralympic gold and world record
THE STAR
Ziyad Zolkefli celebrates after winning the F20 shot putt gold medal in Rio de Janeiro - Reuters
PETALING JAYA: Tears of joy flowed freely down shot putter Ziyad Zolkefli’s cheeks as he stood proudly on the top of the podium in Rio de Janeiro.
Barely an hour after Mohd Ridzuan Mohd Puzi had won the nation’s first Paralympic gold medal in the T36 100m race, Ziyad ensured a double celebration with not one, but two, world record-breaking attempts in the F20 shot putt event.
Ziyad’s first throw of 16.40m improved on the previous world mark of 16.29m set by Australian Todd Hodgetts in 2007.
But he wasn’t done yet. The gentle giant then hurled the putt a massive 16.84m with his fifth throw to obliterate the world record.
His job done, he declined to go out for the final attempt.
Greece’s Dimitrios Senikidis (16.17m) took silver and Hodgetts (15.82m) the bronze.
“I knew after the fifth throw that no one could overtake me. I was confident of getting the gold medal after my first throw,” said Ziyad, who is from Selangor.
“I’ve cleared 17m before during training in Germany earlier this year, so I knew I could break the world record.”
The 26-year-old won gold at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France, in 2013, but had to settle for bronze in the 2015 edition in Doha, Qatar, last year.
At the London Paralympics in 2012, he got a bronze.
And Ziyad could not have chosen a better time to get his act right since the government had approved in 2013 that Paralympians would get the same rewards as the able-bodied athletes for winning medals at the Olympics.
As such, Ridzuan and Ziyad will be the first recipients of the RM1mil reward under the National Sports Council (NSC) incentive scheme.
They will also be entitled to the RM5,000 monthly allowance for their golden feats.
But the financial rewards were furthest from his mind as he stood on the podium.
It was the struggles he had faces and the sacrifices he had made to get to where he is now that led to an outpouring of emotion during the prize-presentation ceremony.
“I’ve made a lot of sacrifices. I’ve been training hard to get here and only I know how hard it’s been,” he said.Mp>“This result is for my family, my country and for all Malaysians. This is the result of my life.
“It will be Malaysia Day soon ... I’m happy to put the country on top,” he added.
Ziyad Zolkefli celebrates after winning the F20 shot putt gold medal in Rio de Janeiro - Reuters
PETALING JAYA: Tears of joy flowed freely down shot putter Ziyad Zolkefli’s cheeks as he stood proudly on the top of the podium in Rio de Janeiro.
Barely an hour after Mohd Ridzuan Mohd Puzi had won the nation’s first Paralympic gold medal in the T36 100m race, Ziyad ensured a double celebration with not one, but two, world record-breaking attempts in the F20 shot putt event.
Ziyad’s first throw of 16.40m improved on the previous world mark of 16.29m set by Australian Todd Hodgetts in 2007.
But he wasn’t done yet. The gentle giant then hurled the putt a massive 16.84m with his fifth throw to obliterate the world record.
His job done, he declined to go out for the final attempt.
Greece’s Dimitrios Senikidis (16.17m) took silver and Hodgetts (15.82m) the bronze.
“I knew after the fifth throw that no one could overtake me. I was confident of getting the gold medal after my first throw,” said Ziyad, who is from Selangor.
“I’ve cleared 17m before during training in Germany earlier this year, so I knew I could break the world record.”
The 26-year-old won gold at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France, in 2013, but had to settle for bronze in the 2015 edition in Doha, Qatar, last year.
At the London Paralympics in 2012, he got a bronze.
And Ziyad could not have chosen a better time to get his act right since the government had approved in 2013 that Paralympians would get the same rewards as the able-bodied athletes for winning medals at the Olympics.
As such, Ridzuan and Ziyad will be the first recipients of the RM1mil reward under the National Sports Council (NSC) incentive scheme.
They will also be entitled to the RM5,000 monthly allowance for their golden feats.
But the financial rewards were furthest from his mind as he stood on the podium.
It was the struggles he had faces and the sacrifices he had made to get to where he is now that led to an outpouring of emotion during the prize-presentation ceremony.
“I’ve made a lot of sacrifices. I’ve been training hard to get here and only I know how hard it’s been,” he said.Mp>“This result is for my family, my country and for all Malaysians. This is the result of my life.
“It will be Malaysia Day soon ... I’m happy to put the country on top,” he added.
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