Hemela Lands Malaysia's First Gold At Asean Para Games, Rewrites Games Record

SOLO, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Hemala Devi Enikutty had the honour of landing Malaysia's first gold medal at the ongoing 6th Asean Para Games when she won the women's javelin F12 (visually impaired) event at the Manahan Stadium here Friday. Hemala Devi, 21, beat four other competitors when she threw a distance of 21.59 metres. The silver was won by Rosalie Torrefind of the Philippines who threw 20.26 metres while the bronze by Brunei's Dayang Nohensan (14.92m). Not only did Hemala Devi win the gold, she also erased the old Games Record of 16.12 metres set by Malaysia's Siti Hadijah Abu Bakar at the Kuala Lumpur edition of the Games in 2001. "I was pleasantly surprised to be able to deliver the gold as I had been out of action as far as javelin is concerned for the last five years. I had been concentrating on my pet events, the shot put and discus, which will begin Saturday," she told Bernama. The Johor-born lass said she had thought she was only good for the silver in the event. Thanking the National Sports Council (NSC) for providing systematic training for Malaysian paralympians in preparation for the 2012 London Paralympics, Hemala Devi said:"I dedicate my success to all Malaysians particularly the disabled." It was all the more memorable for her as the medals to the winners were given away by Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek. Also present was NSC director-general Zolkples Embong. -- BERNAMA