KUALA LUMPUR, October 21, 2026 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has congratulated national para athlete Datuk Abdul Latif Romly for winning the men’s long jump T20 gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, his fourth consecutive title in the event and Malaysia’s third gold of the Games.
“Alhamdulillah, Malaysia wins its third gold! Congratulations to Datuk Abdul Latif Romly, who won the gold medal for the fourth time in a row in the men’s long jump T20 at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games,” Anwar said in a post shared on X on October 21.
The Prime Minister praised the athlete’s determination, noting that Abdul Latif competed while unwell. “Abdul Latif showed extraordinary fighting spirit by continuing to give his best despite being unwell, and succeeded in retaining his title. Your spirit makes all of us proud,” he wrote.
Anwar also urged the rest of the national contingent to keep pushing. “To the other national athletes, keep fighting, stay focused and give your best. Let us continue to make history and bring glory to Malaysia’s name,” he said, sharing the hashtags #MalaysiaMADANI, #kitasemuateamMAS and #AsianParaGames2026.
A winning leap of 7.39 metres
Abdul Latif secured the title on October 20 at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium with a best leap of 7.39 metres, according to Bernama, as reported by the RTM news portal. Saudi Arabia’s Hassan Dawshi took silver with 7.03 metres, while host nation athlete Kanta Kokubo of Japan claimed bronze with 6.98 metres.
The International Paralympic Committee noted that Abdul Latif finished 0.36 metres clear of the runner-up. “I am grateful to have defended my title at my fourth consecutive Games. I would like to thank the people of Malaysia for their tremendous support over the years,” Abdul Latif was quoted as saying by the committee.
Two other Malaysians competed in the same final. Eljoe Gotuoh narrowly missed the podium in fourth place with 6.91 metres, while Nik Mohamad Rahmat Mohd Zahari finished seventh with 6.42 metres.
Twelve years at the top of Asia
Abdul Latif has owned the event at continental level since the 2014 edition in Incheon, South Korea, and went on to defend the title at the 2018 Games in Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia, and the 2022 edition in Hangzhou, China. He also holds the world record in the long jump T20 class, which is for athletes with intellectual impairment, with a mark of 7.67 metres.
His victory came on the same day that powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin won the men’s 72kg category at the Nagoya City Trade & Industry Center, bringing Malaysia’s gold tally at the Games to three.
Games continue
China leads the overall medal table by a wide margin, having collected 70 gold medals by the end of the second day of competition, ahead of Uzbekistan with 17 and Japan with 16, according to the International Paralympic Committee. Para athletics events at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 continue until October 23, giving Malaysia’s track and field athletes further chances to add to the medal haul.
Abdul Latif’s latest triumph extends his long run of continental success, and the Prime Minister’s message reflects the government’s continued backing for the national para sports programme under the Malaysia MADANI banner.
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