Long Jumper Nazmi Makes Golden Debut In World Para Athletics C'ships

KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (Bernama) -- National athlete Muhammad Nazmi Nasri has taken less than two years to make his presence felt on the international stage when he captured the men's long jump T37 (physical impairment) category gold medal at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan today.

His effort of 6.13 metres (m) at the Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium not only confirmed the gold medal in his debut at the prestigious championships, it also eclipsed his previous personal best of 5.74m

Greece's Konstantinos Kamaras took silver with a clearance of 6.01m while Brazil's Mateus Evangelista Cardoso settled for bronze with a similar effort.

The 21-year-old Muhammad Nazmi, who is partially disabled on the left side, including his foot and hand, did not expect to clinch the gold as he admitted to being overawed by the presence of other athletes before the championships began.

"This is the biggest achievement in my career because the other athletes are ranked higher than me and I just gave it my best shot today.

"Before this, I had never participated in sports but everything changed before the 2022 Malaysian Para Games (Para SUKMA) when I was encouraged to try the long jump event by two former national para athletes,” said the Johor-born Muhammad Nazmi when contacted by Bernama.

With his victory, Malaysia now have two gold medals, with 2016 Rio Paralympic champion Muhammad Ziyad Zolkeflli clinching the first gold in the men's shot putt F20 (intellectual impairment) event with a throw of 17.43m on Tuesday (May 21).

-- BERNAMA