Muhammad Diroy Noordin was in a class of his own in the men's shot put F40 event, throwing 8.36m to secure a third straight title. Photo: SNPC / Goh Si Wei
By his own admission, Muhammad Diroy Noordin is capable of throwing better and further. But despite being well off his best, the Singapore para athlete is still a league above the rest when it comes to the Southeast Asia region.
The 35-year-old completed a three-peat on January 22, winning his third straight Asean Para Games title in the men’s shot put F40.
His first throw of 8.36m put him well ahead of his rivals, with Rocky Logrono of the Philippines taking silver (7.40m) while Vietnam’s Tran Van Nguyen took bronze (7.17m).
Coming in as a two-time defending champion, all eyes were on the three-time Paralympian to hold on to his crown, and that pressure weighed on Diroy.
He said: “It was stressful, and we had a lot of pressure to perform. However, we focused on our ability and technique before the event.
“I started off well and towards the end I received more (tips) from my coach, therefore the results at the end was good,” added Diroy, whose posted a 8.31m on his final throw.
Still, even with a gold medal secured, Diroy could not hide a tinge of regret knowing that he is capable of more.
“Honestly, I was very disappointed that I did not perform my personal best,” said Diroy, whose personal best of 10.02m set in February 2024 is also the national record.
“I have some past injuries that affected today’s results, but I did not let that affect me and still gave it my best.”
Any celebration plans will be on hold for now, as Diroy is also pencilled in for the javelin throw event on January 23.
He said: “I will go back with my coach and the team to plan our next move, to better perform at our next event.
“Small wins like this keep my passion going – to push on harder, and to always learn new skills.”
The 13th ASEAN Para Games are held in Thailand from 20 to 26 January 2026. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.