PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s Olympics track cycling silver medallist Azizulhasni Awang had only comforting words for his friend and Paralympic shot-putter Mohd Ziyad Zolkefli – “We, fellow Malaysians, know you are the true champion and this gold medal was robbed from you.”

Ziyad was disqualified from the Tokyo Paralympics men’s shot putt F20 final on Tuesday following a protest made by the Ukrainian team over the fact that the Malaysian and two other athletes had entered the call room late.