Para SUKMA : Shaban Honours Late Father With First Of Three Promised Golds

SHAH ALAM, Sept 6 (Bernama) -- His first Para SUKMA gold was supposed to be a moment of joy shared with his father, but for Sabah’s Muhamad Shaban Shahid Shaban Shah, the victory carried a bittersweet reminder that the man who inspired him to chase the dream was no longer there to witness it.

The 17-year-old had promised his late father, Shaban Shah, three gold medals at the 2026 Selangor Para SUKMA, but his father died of a stroke in July

Today, Muhamad Shaban honoured that promise in the best way he could, clocking 13.210 seconds (s) to win the men’s 100 metres (m) T45 (physical impairment) gold at the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Stadium in Shah Alam on his Para SUKMA debut.

Perak’s Mohammad Norfitri Abdullah (14.260s) took silver and Selangor’s Muhammad Hijjaz Shaffie (15.340s) settled for bronze.

Muhammad Shaban admitted that his father’s passing affected him deeply, as he had hoped to make him proud and personally show him the medal he won at this year’s Para SUKMA.

“I was sad and down because I did not get the chance to make my father proud. But I still want to keep working hard because if we put in the effort, it will mean something,” he told Bernama after the race.

The Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tansau, Penampang student said his father knew about his participation in the Para SUKMA and his ambition to win three gold medals.

“I promised him three gold medals, and this is only the first. Next, I will compete in the 200m and long jump,” he said.

-- BERNAMA