TOKYO, Aug 23 — The national athletes competing at the Tokyo Paralympics here today received a huge boost to their morale after the country’s two sports icons posted words of encouragement to them on social media.
National badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei and national track cycling ace Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang took some time off their busy schedules to post the inspiring words as the country’s extraordinary athletes get ready ahead of the Tokyo Paralympics opening ceremony tomorrow (August 24).
Chong Wei, who won the Olympic men’s singles silver medal three times in a row – at the 2008 Beijing, 2012 London and 2016 Rio editions – believes that the national Paralympians are capable of bringing glory to the country once the action begins in Japan.
“All the best, national athletes! Come on, everyone! Let’s all support and cheer for our national heroes!,” he said via his Facebook and Instagram posts today.
Meanwhile, Azizulhasni, who won bronze in Rio 2016 and silver at the recently-concluded Tokyo Olympics in men’s keirin, urged Malaysians to give their full support to the country’s warriors who will be competing in the prestigious Paralympic Games.
“To all my Paralympic friends, I wish you good luck… do your best and we in Malaysia will pray for your success over there. Ganbatte Team Para Malaysia!,” he wrote on his Facebook page and Instagram account.
For the Tokyo Paralympics, 22 para athletes will be carrying the nation’s challenge in nine sports.
The Youth and Sports Ministry had earlier set a three-gold target for the national contingent, the same as at the 2016 Rio edition, which was also their best-ever achievement since competing in the Paralympics at the 1972 edition in Heidelberg, Germany.
The three gold medals Malaysia bagged in Brazil were contributed by Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi in the men’s 100m T36 (cerebral palsy) category; Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli in the men’s shot put T20 (intellectual impairment) category; and Abdul Latif Romly in the men’s long jump T20 (intellectual impairment) category.
A total of 4,400 athletes from 160 countries will compete in 22 types of sports at the Paralympics in the Land of the Rising Sun from August 24-September 5.
— Bernama
