Para Sukma: Muhamad Afiq attributes success to coach Hamberi
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- National para sprinter Muhamad Afiq Mohamad Ali Hanafiah who competes in the T12 category (visually impaired), is very comfortable under the guidance of the new coach, Hamberi Mahat, a former national sprinter.
Muhamad Afiq who represents Johor said Hamberi's input since the beginning of last month helped him bring home three gold medals in the 2022 Malaysian Para Games (Para Sukma) here, including setting a new national record of 53.44s in the T12 400m event yesterday, erasing his own record of 55.11s that was set in the 2018 edition in Perak.
"Though it's only a month since Hamberi became my coach, I have learned a lot from him, since he is also a former national sprinter. Having taken a coaching licence in Germany before, he has good coaching experience.
"Coaches see a lot of weaknesses that I myself don't see such as running technique other than starting on the running grid," he told reporters.
The 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bronze medalist hopes Hamberi's touch can help him to qualify on merit for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
Muhamad Afiq is also determined to achieve success at the 2023 ASEAN Para Games (APG) in Cambodia and the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, next year.
Earlier, the 28-year-old athlete clinched his third gold here through the T12 200m with a record time of 23.33s beating Muhammad Noorhelmie Mohd Rabi (24.59s) from Kuala Lumpur who won the silver while Flexcyvius Michael Ketet Anak Bakar from Sarawak took the bronze with a time of (26.70s).
On Thursday, Muhamad Afiq won the T12 100m, clocking 11.67s to win his first gold at the 2022 Para Sukma.
Hamberi began his duties as the national sprint coach on Oct 1, replacing R. Jeganathan whose contract was not renewed by the National Sports Council (NSC) earlier this year.
-- BERNAMA
