PARA SUKMA: NOOR IMANINA ON SONG, ASPIRING FOR LA28

KUCHING, Sept 25 (Bernama) – The reputation of Perlis athlete Noor Imanina Idris remains unchallenged as she defended her gold medal in the women’s shot put F20 (intellectual disability) for the third consecutive time at the 2024 Malaysia Para Games (Para SUKMA) here today.

Even more impressive, the national athlete made a remarkable throw of 11.10 metres (m) on her third attempt, surpassing her own previous record of 10.31m from last year's games and her personal best of 11.08m, which she achieved while contributing a bronze for the country at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China.

She outperformed Charmian Sikajat from Sabah, who secured the silver medal with a throw of 10.18m, while Siti Noraidah Suherman claimed bronze for Melaka with a distance of 9.63m.

Noor Imanina expressed pride in maintaining the consistency she established in Hangzhou, allowing her to bring home another gold for the tiniest state in Peninsular Malaysia.

“I aimed to come to Sarawak to break my personal record, and I finally achieved it. Previously, it was difficult for me to reach over 11m, but starting in Hangzhou, I found my rhythm and maintained it here in Sarawak,” she said when met by Bernama after her event at the Sarawak Stadium.

The silver medallist at the 2023 ASEAN Para Games in Cambodia said that she will continue to work hard and improve her throwing technique to bring home gold in the next edition in Thailand, while also dreaming of competing at the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

When asked how her interest in athletics began, the 26-year-old, who previously competed in Para SUKMA 2016 and 2018, said it all started with her enjoyment of throwing stones into rivers in her hometown.

From there, she found that the shot put event resonated with her, and she got the opportunity to train under the Perlis Sports Council at the age of 13, eventually becoming their promising athlete for the biennial Games.

Meanwhile, host athlete Jamal Nasir Zulkiplis topped the men's javelin throw F55 (physical disability) with a Games Record of 21.09m, breaking the previous record held by Mohd Shaari Mohd Jaafar from Melaka (20.97m) at the last editiont.

The silver medal was won by Muhammad Amirul Alif Abdul Raof from Selangor (19.33m), while Samri Butak took home bronze for Sabah (19.04m).

Additionally, Sabah's Fredechi Asri not only clinched gold in the women’s javelin throw F40 (physical disability) but also broke a six-year record previously held by Cordiria Nyoted from Sarawak with a new record of 11.58m, earsing the old mark of 8.54m.

Mary Bada from Sarawak took home the silver (10.89m), while the bronze went to Melaka’s Noor Zaidah Mazlan (10.19m).

-- BERNAMA