Shari Hj Juma'at has no doubt he could have finished on the podium at the London Paralympics.

The world number one ranked para-athlete in the F55 class was in a confident mood heading to London last month, but organisers' decision to combine three classes (F54, F55 and F56) meant the country's only representative at the Games would finish eighth after a best throw of 26.17m.

Though the distance was well off his personal best of 29.83m, Shari was adamant it was still good enough for second had the classes not be combined.

And indeed, of the five para-athletes in the F55 category, only Poland's Karol Kozun threw a longer distance (27.62m).

"I'm sure if there was only one category I'd be second or at least finish on the podium," said Shari yesterday after returning with the rest of the contingent.

"The lower classes have an advantage (in terms of points).

"In other tournaments like the Asian Para Games and ASEAN Para Games the classes are divided, but maybe that is up to the host-nation.

"Maybe the Paralympics (organisers) didn't do it because it would take longer, perhaps even hours, for each event.

"As for the distance, I know I have thrown further. That might have been down the weather ... Hot for a bit, cold for a bit.

"Of course, insyaallah (God willing) I can improve in the future," added the 2010 Asian Para Games silver medalist.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) defines the F54 class for wheelchair para-athletes with normal upper limb function and no abdominal or lower spinal function while F55 is for those with normal upper limb function and who may have partial to normal trunk function and no leg function. The F56 class, meanwhile, is for those with normal upper limb and trunk function and some leg function.

The top-three world ranked para-athletes in the F54 class took the podium places; Mexico's world number two Luis Albert Zepeda Felix claimed top honours with 28.07m, Russia's world number one Alexey Kuznetsov won silver with 27.87m and Greece's world number three Manolis Stefanoudakis finished with bronze on 27.37m.

Despite not getting on the podium, Shari was still able to take numerous positives from the Paralympics where Brunei was one of the 16 teams making its debut.

"I learnt from my fellow athletes since we trained together," noted the 45-year-old.

"There are some small differences in the way the athletes from Poland, Mexico and Russia train.

"Our technique is more or less the same but I was still able to pick up a few things to improve on in terms of training and technique.

"It was a good experience," he concluded.

Another good experience was the atmosphere in London.

A para-athlete who has been represented Brunei since 1991, Shari felt that the Paralympics would go down as the most memorable tournament of his life.

"The opening ceremony was greater than anything I've ever attended," he said.

"It was really impressive!

"And the response we got during the games ... The stadium was nearly always full everytime we were competing and that was like 80,000 people.

"And they cheered every athlete it didn't matter if the athlete was from Great Britain or not."

"It was fantastic!"

Courtesy from Brunei Times