An 11-year-old disabled schoolboy has been praised for participating in a 100-metre sprint on crutches.
The youngster Aqil Zahiran lost a leg when a bacterial infection hit him in 2015.
He was also hit by further tragedy two years ago when his father died.
But he quickly managed to learn to move around with crutches, and before long was even playing football.
And when the youngster was the eldest of two brothers heard about the race, he was determined to take part in that as well.
The race was organised for pupils at a special education school in Jerantut, Pahang, Malaysia, on 23rd August.
Running alongside him in a video seen over 600,000 times was his teacher who encouraged him to keep going to the end.
Aqil admitted that it helped as he was feeling nervous before the event despite training.
He said: “It was the first time I was taking part and I was feeling embarrassed next to the other competitors.
“I carried on anyway though even though my trousers nearly fell off because I was just determined that that no matter what happened, I wanted to finish the race.”
Aqil said that when he finally made it to the finish line was delighted and what made it particularly special was when his teacher Ms Intan Zulaikha Jusoh, 35, came up and congratulated him.
Speaking about her involvement, the teacher said: “Before the race, I told him I wouldn’t force him to win or finish the race if he was tired or in pain.”
She said she ran alongside him so that he did not feel alone.
Aqil’a mother, Noor Hafizah Mat Desa, 36, was not able to watch him race as she was held up at work. But the teacher sent her photographs and she admitted being incredibly proud.
