Record-breaker Paeyo's the wheel deal

Thailand's wheelchair racer Pongsakorn Paeyo continues to push his limits at the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou.

After claiming silver in the men's 100m T53 event, Paeyo clinched gold in the men's 800m T53 event at Huanglong Sports Centre Stadium on Wednesday.

Paeyo outpaced his teammate Masaberee Arsae and the Republic of Korea's Yoo Byung-hoon, to triumph in a Games-record time of 1:36.82.

"I am happy and satisfied with my performance, and especially with the (new) record," said Paeyo after the race.

"The accessible facilities and everything here is so perfect. I'd like to thank the organizers," he added.

In addition to the Asian Para Games record he set on Wednesday, Paeyo also holds the Asian record for the 800m T53 event, as well as for the 100m T53 category.

Born in 1996 in Khon Kaen, Thailand, Paeyo had polio since birth, which affected both his legs.

When he first tried wheelchair racing at the age of 13, Paeyo quickly displayed a knack for the sport.

It was reported that Paeyo trained for just a month before he made his competitive debut at Thailand's 30th National Student Games in 2009, winning a bronze medal in the process.

In 2014, Paeyo made his senior international debut at the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, the Republic of Korea.

Even though he wasn't able to secure a medal, but had impressed enough to ensure he would have more chances to reach the podium on the global stage.

He soon began to shine at major international events, starting with the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

On his Paralympic Games debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Paeyo bagged two gold and two silver medals. Five years later, at the Tokyo Paralympics, his name was heard across the world as he snagged with three power sprint gold medals — in the men's 400m T53, 100m T53 and 800m T53 categories.

Looking ahead, Paeyo has already qualified for the Paris Paralympics, and is training very hard to continue thriving in the French capital.

When asked about his future plans, the unstoppable wheelchair racer said, without any hesitation: "I aim to get the gold and be number one in Paris."