KUALA LUMPUR – At the age of 43, veteran athlete Mohd Hisham Khaironi was still in a class of his own in the Men’s F12 (visually impaired) javelin throw at the 2022 Malaysia Para Games (Para Sukma), as he captured the gold medal with a vintage performance today.
The 2010 Asian Para Games gold medallist, who represented Kedah, also set a new competition record after recording a throw of 42.20m in the final at the National Sports Council Mini Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Badrul Hisam Musa of Johor (39.52m) took the silver while the bronze went to Sabah’s Hazmi Bistani with a distance of (31.64m).
For Hisham, the country’s former elite athlete who is competing in his 15th Para Sukma games since the 1992 edition in Terengganu, it was his third gold medal in javelin.
“I have already collected a total of more than 20 gold medals but this is the third one won in javelin. Before this, I have won the 100m, 200m, 400m and shot put events,” he said after the medal presentation here today.
Hisham said he does not want to retire in the near future as he still aims to represent Malaysia at the 2023 Asean Para Games in Cambodia and the 2024 Para Sukma Games.
“I still don’t feel any ‘signs’ of retirement (slowdown), it feels like I can go two more years (of competition), maybe next year’s Para ASEAN will be my last appearance,” said the Bangi-born athlete.
At the 2010 Para Asean Games in Guangzhou, China, Mohd Hisham won gold in the men’s T12 200m and silver in men’s T12 100m, while failing to bring home a medal in the 2014 edition in Incheon, South Korea.
He had previously competed on a wildcard ticket at the 2000 Sydney (Australia) Paralympic Games and the 2004 Athens (Greece) Paralympic Games. – Bernama, November 3, 2022
