Brunei Paralympian Shari Hj
Juma'at (C) in a group photo
with Deputy Minister of Culture,
Youth and Sports Datin Paduka
Hjh Adina Othman (bottom row
2nd L)prior to his departure for
the London Paralympics yesterday.
Picture: BT/ Md Asdeny Yakub

Record-breaking para-athlete Shari Hj Juma'at is confident he can finish on the podium at the London Paralympics.

Ranked No 1 in the world in the Men's Javelin F55 field wheelchair event according to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics Rankings, it is no surprise the country's first Paralympian has a medal on his mind at the Aug 29-Sept 9 event.

Brunei will be joining 15 other countries who are making their debut at the Paralympics, but Shari who has been representing the Sultanate since 1991 is hardly daunted by the fact.

"Of course the target is gold," insisted the sprightly 45-year-old ASEAN record holder before leaving yesterday. ``I'm definitely ready for London.

``I've been training for the Paralympics since the 2010 Asian Para Games, and during that time, I can say I have improved in terms of technique.

``To get a medal, I'll have to stay focused and remain relaxed during the competition,'' said Shari, pointing out Iran, Brazil and Poland as his biggest challengers.

Shari qualified for the Paralympics after recording a throw of 29.83m during the 1st Malaysia Open Para Athletics Championship 2012 in April, the distance enough to make him the Asean record-holder for the event.

He has also competed at last year's 6th ASEAN Para Games in Solo, Indonesia, where his throw of 26.22m became the new Games record.

Shari will be among the 4,200 Paralympic athletes expected to compete in London, though the date of his event will only be agreed upon after the manager's meeting.

``Tentatively, it is set for either Sept 7 or 8,'' said the contingent's chef de mission Hj Rosmadee Hj Md Daud yesterday.

Also on the plane to London yesterday were Shari's coach, Hj Wahid Hj Ismail, and team manager Mohd Zain Hj Muhammad.

Brunei will be joined by Antigua & Barbuda, Cameroon, Comoros, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, North Korea, San Marino, Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and the US Virgin Islands as the 16 new teams this year.

Courtesy from Brunei Times