KUALA LUMPUR – National para shot put ace Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli is gearing up for a golden run in this year’s international championships once Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities conclude.
The Selangor-born athlete revealed that his first major challenge will be the 2025 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Morocco this month, followed by competitions in Paris (July) and the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, India (October).
Having begun preparations shortly after the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Ziyad maintained his training regime even during Ramadan.
“The Morocco championship will be a crucial test after such a long break since the Paralympics,” he told Bernama.
“Though it’s already April, it feels like the start of my season—and my pursuit of gold. This phase will help me identify any weaknesses before the World Championships in India.”
However, Ziyad admitted some apprehension, having been away from international competition for a while. He also emphasised the need for careful post-Aidilfitri diet management ahead of his first event.
On his Ramadan training schedule, he shared: “I trained from morning until noon, then resumed after iftar and Tarawih prayers—often from 10 PM to 1 AM.”
Ziyad secured silver (17.18m) in the men’s F20 shot put (intellectual disability category) at the Paris Paralympics, falling short of reclaiming gold.
His Paralympic journey includes bronze (2012, London) and gold (2016, Rio de Janeiro).
In the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, he returned home empty-handed. — April 4, 2025