"This is a gift for Malaysia," said Malaysian athlete Siti Noor Radiah Ismail after winning a bronze medal at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The 23-year-old athlete from Segamat, Johor, clinched the unexpected victory in the women's long jump T20 (learning disability) event at the Olympic Stadium yesterday, on the eve of Malaysia Day, breaking the Asian Para Games record with a leap of 5.20 metres.

Siti Noor Radiah leapt the distance in her third attempt and erased the 5.10m record set at the Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea, in 2014.

"I did my best here. I tried to improve on by best achievement at the Asean Para Games (in Singapore last year). This is result," she said in a WhatsApp message to Bernama.

After winning the silver medal at the Asean Para Games, she said, she did not expect to compete at the Paralympic Games in Rio.

"Actually, I did not think I would be able to compete here. I wish to thank my coach who helped me a lot, my family, supporters and Malaysians who prayed and encouraged me. This is the reward," said Siti Noor Radiah, who made her debut appearance at the Paralympics.

Mikela Ristoki of Croatia won the gold medal in the event with a leap of 5.79m while Polish athlete and world record holder Karolina Kucharczyk had to settle for the silver with a distance of 5.55m.

Kucharczyk had set the world record of 6.09m at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France, in 2013 and the Paralympics record of 6.00m at the London games in 2012.

Another Malaysian, Siti Noor Iasah Mohamad Ariffin, leapt 4.91m in Rio to take the fourth place in the event.

Long jump coach Syahrul Amri Mohd Suhaimi expressed gratitude over the victory of Siti Noor Radiah.

The long jumper of the 90s said he was confident Siti Noor Radiah would be able to do much better with consistent training.

"This is her personal best. I am sure she can leap further if she is to use the gold medal winner as the benchmark. I know she can," he said.

Syahrul Amri said he was satisfied with the performance of Siti Noor Radiah and Siti Noor Iasah.

"They gave their best," he added.

- Bernama