KUALA LUMPUR – Former para sprint world champion Mohamad Ridzuan Puzi will not be part of the Malaysian contingent for the Paris Paralympics, which begins on August 28.
The Malaysian para-athletics squad for Paris includes six athletes, making it the largest group in the contingent. However, Ridzuan’s name is notably absent from the list.
Among the six, three are seasoned athletes: Datuk Abdul Latif Romly (long jump), Jonathan Wong (long jump) and Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli (shot put).
The other three are debutants: Muhammad Nazmi Nasri (long jump), Ammar Aiman Nor Azmi (400m) and Eddy Bernard (100m).
Ridzuan, who won gold in the 100m T36 (cerebral palsy) category at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, did not qualify on merit after failing to achieve his best time during the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, in May.
The 37-year-old finished sixth in the final with a time of 12.50sec, well below his personal best of 11.87sec, which set a world record in 2018.
Speaking to Scoop, chef de mission Datuk S. Subramaniam acknowledged that Ridzuan’s absence is a tough blow for the team.
“We owe a lot to Ridzuan Puzi. He was the first to bring home a gold medal for Malaysia in the Paralympic Games, and his contributions have been significant and well-recognised by the country.
“But as with everyone in sports, there is a shelf life, and athletes eventually have to step down. We are exploring new roles for him where he can continue to inspire others with disabilities to pursue sports.
“At his age, speed sports become increasingly challenging, so we’re gradually phasing him out to make way for younger athletes,” Subramaniam added during his visit to the para-athletics team at Bukit Jalil today.
There has been no official announcement from Ridzuan about whether he remains active in sprinting or plans to retire.
However, regardless of his decision, the Paralympic Council Malaysia is preparing for all possibilities to continue utilising the expertise and experience of the Rio 2016 champion.
“We are exploring other options for him. Given that his competitive career is nearing its end, we must find a new role for him. Despite his disabilities, he could transition into coaching or other positions.
“We want to keep him involved because he is a legend, being Malaysia’s first Paralympic gold medallist. We want to ensure that his achievements and legacy are honoured and utilised effectively,” Subramaniam added.
Ridzuan’s absence from the Malaysian contingent also means he will miss the chance to redeem his disappointment from Tokyo 2020 where he finished fourth and fell short of a podium place. – August 19, 2024