Ammar Targets Gold, Personal Best In World Championship Next Year

NAGOYA (Japan), Oct 22 (Bernama) -- National para-athlete Muhammad Ammar Aiman ​​Nor Azmi aims to set a new personal best and garners the gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championships in Uzbekistan, following his missed opportunity to defend his gold medal in the men’s 400m (T20) event at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games.

Ammar, 24, who secured a silver medal with a time of 48.34 seconds at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Japan, admitted he was disappointed not to retain the title he won in the previous edition, though he remains grateful to have contributed a medal for his country.

He noted that this result serves as motivation to return stronger recalling his last sub-48 seconds performance in 2024 at the Paris Open, where he also broke the meet record.

“I do feel disappointed here. I couldn’t bring home the gold medal or defend my Asian Championship title. Still, I am grateful to have secured a silver; I gave my absolute best for Malaysia and Toyota,” he said when met at the ‘One Team Asia’ dinner event here yesterday.

Ammar also expressed his intention to test his capabilities at the SEA Games as an able-bodied athlete, with his sights set on competing against the national 400m record holder, Umar Osman whom he considers both a friend and a rival in the pursuit of breaking the national record.

Meanwhile, Ammar acknowledged that the support provided by Toyota through the Global Team Toyota Athletes (GTTA) programme has given him fresh inspiration to continue improving his performance and bringing glory to the nation on the international stage. He also cites national para-athlete Datuk Abdul Latif Romly as a source of inspiration.

“Truth be told, I really aspire to be like Datuk Latif. In Paris, I had hoped to win a gold medal, but it just wasn’t meant to be. I wasn’t able to defend my gold medal here either it simply wasn’t my time.

“I am determined to prove that I can reach the same level as Datuk Latif Romly. I will give my absolute best for my family, for my own reputation, and for the name of Malaysia,” he said.

Since 2018, Toyota Motor Asia has implemented the GTTA programme to support athletes across the Asian region in pursuing their sporting goals, having collaborated with over 20 athletes through the initiative.

Through the ‘Dual Hero Project’ an initiative introduced in 2018, athletes are also supported in developing community projects centered on causes or issues close to their hearts.

For Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Games, Toyota Motor Asia is supporting seven athletes from six Asian markets competing across various disciplines, including para-sports such as para-athletics, para-swimming, para-cycling, and para-powerlifting.

Ammar is one of the athletes supported under the GTTA programme.

-- BERNAMA