![[UPDATED] Malaysia files counter-protest over Muhammad Ziyad’s disqualification](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/_large/Ziyad_Zolkefli_para_shot_put.jpg)
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has filed a counter-protest along with two other nations, Australia and Ecuador at the Tokyo Paralympics Games over national shot put para-athlete Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli’s technical disqualification earlier this evening.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said in a tweet that Ukraine’s protest, which had cost Malaysia its gold medal, is still accepted.
It is understood that the Ukrainian team had protested the fact that Ziyad was late to enter the callroom.
However, the matter will be raised at the chef-de-mission meeting tomorrow morning.
“We will continue to defend! I ask the people of Malaysia to pray for us,” he said.
The Malaysian delegate had earlier filed a protest, including CCTV evidence in the call room and outside it.
Ziyad, who broke the world record twice in his shot put F20 (learning disabilities) event at the Tokyo Paralympic Games earlier today, had earlier been disqualified by the Tokyo Paralympic authorities reportedly based on technical issues.
Although the Paralympian notched 17.31m in his first throw, 17.94m in his third, 17.62m in his fourth and 16.31m in his fifth throw, the gold medal was awarded to runner-up, Ukraine's Maksym Koval.
The 31-year-old Malaysian para-athlete defended his 2016 Rio victory with a new world and Paralympic record with a throw of 16.84m to clinch the gold medal, erasing the record of Australian athlete Todd Hodgetts.
Ziyad is not alone in Malaysia's para-athletics campaign in Tokyo as he is joined by two Rio 2016 gold medallists, Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi in the 100m T36 (cerebral palsy) and Abdul Latif Romly in the long jump T20 (learning disabilities) events, along with fellow Paralympians, Siti Nooriasah Mohamad Ariffin in the 400m women’s F20 (learning disabilities) and Wong Kar Gee in the long jump T13 (visual impairment) events.
Malaysia has altogether 22 para-athletes competing in nine sports at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. – The Vibes, August 31, 2021
