SEPANG – Malaysian para lawn bowler Muhamad Ayub Mohd never imagined that setting aside his job as a masseur to pursue success for Malaysia would pay off as he became the world champion at the recently concluded World Championships in South Africa.
Fate smiled upon Ayub as he clinched the gold medal after showcasing remarkable prowess, surpassing six competitors in the men’s singles B2 (visually impaired), amassing a total of 10 points after seven rounds.
Ayub beat his closest competitor, Kwok Wing from Hong Kong, who secured nine points to settle for the silver medal, while the bronze went to Ron Homer from England, who scored six points.
The 42-year-old athlete admitted that winning the gold medal on the world stage was a fulfilling experience for him, considering all the sacrifices he made, especially leaving his wife, who is also differently-abled, to take care of their children.
He said that the sacrifices have now been rewarded with a gold medal.
In a sweeter twist, Ayub’s triumph also marks the end of Malaysia’s medal drought on the world stage since 2004.
“Alhamdulillah, I am truly touched because this is my first gold medal in a world championship. For over 10 years, I have been involved in this sport, and this is the first time I have won a gold medal at the international level.
“I never expected to achieve gold because of the challenges from other countries that have more experience and better tactics than me. Thank God, all the planning truly paid off because we fought tirelessly to ensure victory for our country.
“However, reaching this level was not easy because I also have a family and had to leave my wife and children. My wife is also disabled, and I had to entrust her with responsibilities, so it was quite tough when she had to take care of the children alone. For the sake of sports and my country, I had to go.
“Furthermore, I also work as a masseur at Pertama Complex, Kuala Lumpur, so when I joined training, I lost my income there. All of these factors strengthened my determination to win the gold.
“Bringing home the gold, I felt that it was truly worth the sacrifices I made,” said Ayub at the celebration ceremony for the national para lawn bowl squad at KLIA today.
Besides Ayub, Hasmunirah Maliki also clinched the gold in the women’s B2 individual event, while Mohd Zamrie Hasan won the bronze medal in the B2 mixed singles event.
At the same time, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said that the historic success achieved by the national para lawn bowl squad qualifies them for the National Sports Incentive Scheme (Shakam).
“Therefore, their success qualifies them for the Shakam incentive, and it will be announced by the National Sports Council after they have calculated the amount accordingly,” said Hannah. – June 3, 2024