Ziyad settles for shot put silver as Ukraine's Yarovyi breaks world record

Malaysia’s Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli settled for the silver in the men’s F20 shot put (intellectual disability) at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games yesterday, as Ukraine’s Oleksandr Yarovyi broke the world record twice to claim gold.

Ziyad started the competition at the Stade de France with a throw of 16.75m, followed by a second attempt of 16.66m.

The national champion then threw at a distance of 17.18m which was good for a silver. He ended the competition with a throw of 16.86m.

En route to clinching gold, Yarovyi cleared a distance of 17.60m on his third attempt to erase his teammate’s world record and defending champion, Maksym Koval which was 17.57m set during the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris.

Minutes later the 25-year-old athlete surpassed his own world record, with a throw of 17.61m on the fourth attempt.

Koval’s throws were red-flagged four times and he had to settle for a bronze medal through his best attempt in the second throw with a distance of 16.99m.

Putting dark episode behind

Ziyad was relieved that the dark episode that had haunted him at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games did not repeat itself in the Paris 2024 edition.

Although he missed out on a gold medal achievement at the Paralympic Games this time, Ziyad said what was important for him was to be able to get back on the podium after missing out on a similar opportunity in Tokyo.

“For me, the expectations were high for the gold medal, but I don’t feel very disappointed because I tried and gave my best. Most importantly, I was able to overcome the episode that had haunted me since 2020. I proved it with a silver medal, it's like a dream,” he told Bernama after his event yesterday.

In Tokyo, Ziyad who had successfully defended the gold medal that he had won in Rio 2016, was unceremoniously penalised for allegedly reporting late to the call room before his event had started.

The result was subsequently overturned.

20 minutes early

Ziyad said he had arrived 20 minutes early to the call room at the Stade de France to prevent the bitter experience of Tokyo 2020 from happening again.

“I have never thought about retiring again, maybe I will compete again for the next Paralympic Games and depending on the condition of my body at that time I will try and do my best,” he said.

Ziyad also dedicated the silver medal he won to his father Zolkefli Othman who celebrated his 70th birthday on Sept 1.

When asked about his next plan, he said he wants to rest for a while and spend time with his family when he returns home.

- Bernama

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