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Malaysia will appeal Ziyad's case

Malaysia will proceed with their appeals to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and World Para Athletics (WPA) to overturn Ziyad Zolkefli's disqualification from his event at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Chef de Mission Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin, who confirmed this yesterday, disclosed that they have already engaged lawyers to handle the matter.

He does not rule out the possibility of going all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), but is focusing on the IPC and WPA appeals first.

"We are still going to follow up (with appeals). We have put in our requests stating our intention, and we will do it according to procedures," said Shahriman in Tokyo yesterday.

"That part (CAS), we will leave to the lawyers that we have engaged.

"The only thing we need to do (now) is to have the CCTV footage to confirm that our athlete was at the call room.

"This footage is important for WPA and IPC to review and subsequently decide on the matter. We will do the necessary and will provide other documentation and evidence needed."

Whether Malaysian officials will be able to obtain that CCTV footage from the organisers remains a huge question mark.

Ziyad's coach Faizol Harun had disclosed that the area in question at the Olympic Stadium is a 'no recording or live streaming' zone for personal devices.

Shahriman, also Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) president, added that he was pleased with the national contingent's overall performance at the Tokyo Games.

However, he admitted that he expected more silver and bronze medals.

Malaysia won a total of three gold and two silver medals, which is to date the country's best-ever haul at the Paralympics.

"I am happy that we won three gold here. It has been a tough journey for us due to Covid-19. The Games were delayed for a year, and our athletes' performances were up and down throughout this period.

"We expected more medals, but we are still grateful for what we have won.

"Our momentum was affected along the way after what had happened to one of our athletes (Ziyad). Other Malaysian athletes were down, but we told them to keep moving forward.

"We had actually expected a silver or bronze from Wong Kar Gee (long jump T13), at least a bronze from Ridzuan Puzi (100m T36) and the same from Didin Taresoh (badminton singles SH6), but then he got injured.

"I have to thank all the coaches and other team members, who have been the unsung heroes for the Games."

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