SEPANG – Malaysian para-cyclist, Mohd Yusof Hafizi, is aiming for the stars, setting his sights high on bringing home a medal from the upcoming Paris Paralympic Games, scheduled for August.
The 26-year-old athlete continued his impressive streak at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he secured a bronze medal in the 1km time trial event.
Competing in the C1 category at the Rio Olympic Velodrome, Yusof clocked an impressive time of 1 minute 15.572 seconds.
The gold medal in the event was claimed by Li Zhang Yu from China, while teammate, Liang Wei Cong, secured the silver.
“Initially, my goal was to contribute to the national squad’s efforts in earning points to secure a slot for the Paris Paralympics.
“However, I also had my eyes set on winning a medal myself. I am grateful to have made it to the final and to have clinched the bronze medal,” said Yusof upon his return to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) today.
At the World Championships, Yusof participated in five events, including the 200m omnium, scratch, elimination, 3000m individual pursuit, and mixed team sprint.
Reflecting on his recent successes, Yusof expressed satisfaction with his performances over the past three months.
In January, he secured a bronze medal at the UCI Para Road World Cup in Adelaide, Australia.
Following this, he achieved a remarkable feat by winning four gold medals at the Asia Para Track Cycling Championships in New Delhi, India, in February.
Looking ahead to Paris, Yusof is confident in his abilities to contribute to Malaysia’s medal tally at the prestigious sporting event.
“I consider this to be my best year yet, as I have consistently stood on the podium since January.
“Winning in Adelaide was a historic moment for me as the first Malaysian athlete to achieve this at that championship.
“My successes in India and now in Brazil further boosted my confidence. I believe I can perform well in Paris.
“In Paris, my event, C1, will be combined with categories C2 and C3, so I can predict who my competitors will be if I make it to Paris. Nevertheless, I need to strive to improve my timing,” he added.
The Malaysian para-cycling team has already secured two slots for the Paris Paralympics, with Malaysia aiming to secure an additional slot before the qualification deadline on June 30. – March 27, 2024