KUALA LUMPUR: Hisam Khaironi defended his Asean Para Games (Para KL2017) javelin gold medal in the F12/13 event with a throw of 49.98m yesterday.
The visually-impaired athlete, 38, has a long history of making the country proud as he was a 100m, 200m and long jump athlete before switching to javelin as his eyesight deteriorated.
In the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Para Games, Hisam won silver for the country when he clocked 11.53s in the 100m sprint.
"I have been in training with the National Sports Council since 1994, and was a runner before picking up javelin. The Manchester silver was the most memorable moment in my career," said the father of five.
At the age of 10, Hisam caught a fever which affected his eyesight, but it did not stop him from realising his ambition of becoming an athlete. He started running at the age of 13, and never looked back.
At the 2015 Singapore Para Games, Hisam's gold was won at a distance of 47.64m.
And he is looking for a javelin treble in Manila 2019.
"As long as my body is able, I will represent the country. My next mission is to win a third consecutive javelin gold in the Manila Para Games in two years’ time," said Hisam.