Malaysian para-archery champion awarded RM80k and MAYBE new home
Suresh Selvathamby, Malaysia’s first-ever para-archery world champion will be rewarded RM80,000 under the National Sports Council Scheme (SHAKAM).
The scheme initiated by the Sports Ministry is a program to provide financial assistance and rewards to our homegrown athletes and trainers, to extrinsically motivate and acknowledge the achievements of our heroes.
The Kedah-born athlete recently became the pride of the nation when he took home gold at the World Archery Para Championships in s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands after defeating the US’s Eric Bennet (the former 2015 World Champion).
With the win placing him at the top-16 rankings, Suresh has sealed his place for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“I am definitely going for gold in Tokyoâ€
Suresh Selvathamby
According to Berita Harian, the Ministry is also considering the prospect of awarding Suresh with a house for his athletic accomplishment.
The 26-year old was raised by his mother, whom till this day, still lives in a rented home.
Suresh is the only other Malaysian to have taken victory at the World Archery Para Championships, following the late Salam Sidik who took home Bronze in Turin back in 2011.
Suresh’s rise to glory
Growing up in Kuala Ketil, Suresh’s emotional past began with the misfortune of losing his left leg during a tragic road accident on the North-South Expressway near Slim River in Perak. He was 13 at the time.
Not a month after losing a limb, Suresh was stricken by yet another sad calamity when his younger sister died, after also being involved in a traffic accident.
At the age of 18, Suresh found his love for the archery
scene after he was introduced to Kedah para-archery coach, M. Puvaneswaran.
His first breakthrough came after winning a silver medal
during the Para Sukma Games in 2019
In 2014, Suresh began his career as a national athlete, training under the watch of national para-archery coach, Marzuki Zakaria.
Let’s give it up to Suresh! Someone who truly deserves the title of CHAMPION!
