Veteran long jump ace still hungers for more success

KUCHING (Sept 24): Former ASEAN Para Games champion Mohd Farissan Jasnal is considering becoming a full-time para athlete after Para Sukma XXI. He said this is because the Sarawak Government has been very caring and monitors the progress and welfare of the state para athletes.

“The government also gives us training allowance every month and we also get incentives for winning medals for Sarawak in Para Sukma and Paralympics,” the 34-year-old fisherman from Kampung Bako said after winning the men’s T38 (physical impairment) long jump gold at the Sarawak Stadium today.

Farissan recorded his best jump of 5.34m on his fifth attempt to beat Selangor’s Adray Uzair Abu Bakar (5.12m) and Sabah’s Mohd Nizamuddin Mathahir (4.47m).

“Today’s gold was a result of numerous efforts to make a comeback and l have lost count of how many medals l won since l first competed in Para Sukma 2008.

“I am hoping and trying my very best to add medals to the Sarawak contingent in my other two events in the 200m and 4x100m relay,” he told reporters.

His Para Sukma saga is by no means over.

“I will compete in the next Para Sukma and try to win one or two golds for Sarawak,” he added.

Farissan won the long jump (T38) at the 2013 ASEAN Para Games with a record of 5.89m. His personal best is 6.26m which he recorded at the 2012 Pahang Para Sukma Pahang.