KUALA TERENGGANU, Sept 4 — Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek today hailed archer Hasihin Sanawi a national hero for winning a silver medal at the ongoing Paralympic Games in London.

“Congratulations to him. I am so proud of his achievement. I am sure he is the pride of the whole nation,” he told reporters after attending the launch of the orientation week for new students at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA).

Ahmad Shabery said Hasihin would be welcomed as a national hero upon his return for having done the country proud.

Hasihin was edged by Italy’s Oscar de Pellegrin in a toe-to-toe shoot-off yesterday after they were tied 5-5 in the men’s individual recurve W1/W2 final at the Royal Artillery Barracks near London.

Ahmad Shabery said Hasihin’s feat was an improvement over the country’s achievement at the Beijing Paralympics four years ago when it won only a bronze.

Asked what additional incentives would be given to athletes who excelled at the London Paralympics, the minister said he would raise the matter at the Cabinet meeting.

On another matter, he said the paralympic training centre in Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur, would begin operations by the end of this year or early next year.

“It should have been completed last November, but there was a delay due to weather and technical problems.  

“Hopefully, it will be the best such facility in Southeast Asia,” he said. — Bernama