SARAWAK'S AHMAD BASHIRUN OVERCOMES ADVERSITY TO WIN GOLD IN PARA SUKMA

KUCHING, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- Tragedy often strikes without warning. Such was the case for Sarawak's lawn bowls gold medallist Ahmad Bashirun Ismail, who was confined to a wheelchair after falling from a coconut tree 11 years ago, leaving him partially paralysed.

Even more heartbreaking is that his climb up the three-metre tree was an act of kindness, as he intended to help an unknown woman who craved coconut water due to her thirst in a remote village here.

"I had just returned from fishing in the village when I met a woman who was thirsty and craving coconut water. At first, I didn’t want to climb the tree, but on my way home, I felt sorry for her and turned back to help," he told Bernama after his match at Sarawak Lawn Bowl Arena today.

“As I was climbing, I fell. The woman ran into her house and didn’t help. My friend panicked and rushed me to the hospital on a motorcycle. My toenails were destroyed, and my spinal nerves were injured during the ride,” he added.

Following the accident, the 39-year-old athlete was unconscious for a week, and his life took a complete 360-degree turn, as he lost his job as a technician due to the partial paralysis.

However, he said he found a renewed sense of purpose when he was given the chance to represent Sarawak in lawn bowls.

"Initially, I just wanted to gain experience, but over time, I grew passionate about it. My coach picked me after I placed third in my first tournament in 2019, and now I’ve won gold for Sarawak, Alhamdulillah," he said.

Earlier, Ahmad Bashirun, who competed in the open pairs B6 (physical disability) category alongside his partner Nischal Nischolas Bujang, secured gold for Sarawak after winning all four round-robin matches.

Silver and bronze medals were claimed by Negeri Sembilan’s Salmiah Zakaria-Shahriluzaily Md Rashid and Mohd Syazwan Kamaruddin-Azaley Ali, respectively.

In the women’s singles category, Sarawak’s Norhasfalinda Hamdan emerged victorious after winning all four of her round-robin matches, while Johor’s Nor Ilyana Abu Bakar and Perak’s Mokanayashini Krishna Naidu took the silver and bronze, respectively.

Norhasfalinda said her gold medal win today served as a motivation after failing to secure a medal at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, last year.

"With this win, I’m more determined to achieve my goal of winning my first medal at the next Asian Para Games," she said.

-- BERNAMA