Malaysia has bagged two medals at the Tokyo Paralympics for powerlifting.
Jong Yee Khie won silver today while Bonnie Bunyau Gustin won the country’s first gold two days ago. Jong won after his second attempt in the men’s 107kg category lifting 237kg, while Bonnie broke the Paralympics record after lifting 228kg. The previous record of 227kg was held by Rasool Mohsin of Iraq who achieved the feat at Rio 2016.
Jong, a 32-year-old hairdresser from Batu Kawa, Kuching, failed his third and final attempt to lift 245kg. His success makes up for his disappointment at finishing seventh in the 97kg category during his Paralympics debut in Rio 2016.
Bonnie, the Sarawakian, who was born in Serian, also broke the Games’ record of 227kg set by Rasool Mohsin from Iraq at the Rio 2016 Paralympics when he lifted 228kg in his third attempt on the first day of the sport’s competition. Bonnie did not beat his own world record of 230kg that he set at the 11th Fazza Dubai Powerlifting World Cup in the UAE last June. He could not clear 231kg during his fourth attempt in Tokyo.
During today’s action at the Tokyo International Forum, the medalist was defeated by Mongolian athlete Sodnompiljee Enkhbayar, who lifted 245kg, a new Paralympics record for the category. The bronze medal went to Saman Razi from Iran, who lifted 231kg.
Today is the last day of the powerlifting competition at the Games.
Other stories:
Malaysian politicians become 8-bit avatars in revamped directory tracking their performance
Malaysia’s COVID-19 epicentre ready for next step in recovery: PM Ismail
Reader Interactions