BY: Michelle Liew
Former Paralympian sprinter Raduan Emeari has accepted a job offer from the National Sports Council (NSC).
The 39-year-old was previous working at a petrol station in Kuala Selangor and hopes that his new job as an assistant trainer will bring greater opportunities for him.
Raduan has high hopes that he will be able to contribute and help the national team.
“I refused before because I had family problems, but now I am ready to help the country’s battle,” said Raduan.
“I will use the knowledge and experience that I have to help other athletes with disabilities to succeed and progress to new heights.”
The father of one managed to shake social media after a photo of him working at the station went viral. This prompted the state government to pay him a visit at his home in Kampung Bukit Belimbing, Kuala Selangor, last week.
Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated (MBI) head of corporate social responsibility Ahmad Azri Zainal Nor stated that they also gave Raduan cash and food baskets to ease his burdens.
“We found out about Raduan’s story from social media and tried our best to track him down,” he said.
“This assistance is also the continuation of contributions offered to several former athletes and celebrities who were facing difficulties before.”
Apart from the MBI, the Selangor Menteri Besar’s political secretary Juwairiya Zulklifli, and representatives from the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) and Selangor Ministry of Youth and Sports also paid Raduan a visit.
Raduan represented Malaysia in several editions of the ASEAN Para Games, including Philippines (2005), Thailand (2008), Indonesia (2011), Myanmar (2014), Singapore (2015), and Kuala Lumpur (2017), and won five gold medals during that period.
He also competed in the Guangzhou 2010 Para Asian Games and the subsequent edition in Incheon in 2014, as well as the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
