PCM Hope To Get Dek Wan On Board Governing Body To Strengthen Para Sport Ecosystem

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) -- The Paralympic Council Malaysia (PCM) plans to get the country's first Paralympic gold medallist - Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi, or better known as Dek Wan - who announced his retirement last week, on board the national governing body in a bid to strengthen the para sport ecosystem.

PCM president Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin said the proposal would be discussed at their meeting next month, with the possibility of Dek Wan being appointed as an ambassador or given a significant role in the organisation.

He added that the 38-year-old, who is highly experienced, is an elite athlete capable of providing added value to the development of para sports, particularly in understanding the actual needs of para athletes.

"Dek Wan is one of the athletes I highly respect. He has contributed immensely to the country and is an icon and an inspiration to our younger generation of para athletes,” he told reporters after the 2026 Selangor Para Malaysia Games (Para SUKMA) workshop classification here today.

He described Mohamad Ridzuan's gold medal feat in the men's 100m T36 (cerebral palsy) category at the 2016 Rio Paralympics as the catalyst that paved the way for Malaysian para athletes’ success on the world stage.

Shahriman stressed that efforts to bring former athletes into the administration are part of the PCM's initiatives to ensure continuity of experience and expertise in the sport's ecosystem, with the hope that one day, para athletes will fill important positions in the country's sports administration, such as the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (YAKEB).

"This is their sport. We only provide the framework, but the ones who truly understand the sacrifice involved are the athletes themselves. So, we want to give them the opportunity to continue contributing,” he said.

National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Jefri Ngadirin previously confirmed that Dek Wan had, earlier this month, decided to step away from para athletics.

Meanwhile, commenting on the workshop, Shahriman said the "zero classification” system, first used at the 2024 Sarawak Para SUKMA, would be implemented at the Selangor edition this year.

The primary aim is to ensure no athlete is turned away at the venue due to misclassification or failure to meet classification requirements, and that all athletes must get the classification done in their respective states in accordance with all the procedures set by the classification head of each state.

Shahriman said that the experience gained in Sarawak had allowed PCM to improve their procedures and strengthen understanding among coaches and officials.

"This is the second time we will be implementing zero classification. We expect a smoother and more systematic implementation this time,” he said.

-- BERNAMA