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By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, June 23: Sarawak para athletes have contributed 13 gold, 12 silver and 9 bronze medals at the 12th Asean Para Games held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from June 3 to 9.
Sarawak Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the Malaysian contingent has sent 144 para athletes. of which 18 of them hailed from Sarawak.
“Out of the 11 Southeast Asian countries that competed, Malaysia managed to take fourth place with a collection of 122 medals, namely 50 gold, 38 silver and 34 bronze. This exceeded the medal collection target of 33 gold, 51 silver and 58 bronze.
“Overall, Sarawak para athletes have contributed 34 medals or 27.9 per cent of the total medals collected by the Malaysian contingent,” she said during appreciation ceremony for the para athletes held at Penview Hotel here today.
In para swimming event, Muhammad Nur Syaiful Zulkafli took the spotlight for winning three gold medals for men’s 100m freestyle S5, men’s 50m breaststroke SB4, men’s 50m freestyle S5 and three silver medals for men’s 100m breaststroke SB4, men’s 200m freestyle S5 and men’s team 4x100m medley relay 34 points.
Meanwhile, Fraidden Dawan won 3 gold medals for men’s 100m butterfly S10, men’s 200m individual medley SM10, men’s 400m freestyle S10, one silver medal for men’s 100m backstroke S10 and two bronze medals for men’s 50m butterfly S10 and men’s team 4x100m medley relay 34 points.
Fellow swimmer Mohd Adib Iqbal Abdullah won three gold medals for men’s 100m breaststroke SB14, men’s 50m breaststroke SB14 and men’s team 4x100m medley relay S14.
Rusdianto Rusmadi on the other hand won one gold medal for men’s 100m butterfly S8 and four silver for men’s 100m backstroke S8, men’s 200m individual medley SM8, men’s 400m freestyle S8 and men’s 50m butterfly S8.
Two more gold medals were contributed by Khairulnizam Engkeh and Mohd Farissan Jasnal who were in the men’s team for football 7-a-side event.
At the same time, table tennis player Gloria Gracia Wong Sze contributed two silver medals for mixed double TT10 and women’s singles TT10.
In the powerlifting event, Azlan Mos won two silver medals for men’s up to 59kg and men’s up to 59kg (total lift); Bryan Junency Gustin won two silver medals for men’s up to 80kg and men’s up to 80kg (total lift); Nicodemus Manggoi Moses won two silver medals for men’s up to 88kg and men’s up to 88kg (total lift); while Bibiana Ahmad won a silver medal for women’s up to 67kg and a bronze medal for women’s up to 67kg (total lift).
The remaining four bronze medals were contributed by wheelchair basketball player Freday Tan Yei Bing in men’s team 3×3 and men’s team 5×5 categories, badminton player Ashley Irenaeus Jeck in men’s double WH1-WH2, and boccia player Abdul Razzaq Abdul Rahman in mixed pair BC4.
Fatimah further informed that three para athletes have made seven new records in Para Asean Games where para swimmer Syaiful set a new record of 33.23 seconds for 50m freestyle S5 event and 56.96 seconds for 50m breaststroke SB4.
Adib set 32.17 seconds for 50m breaststroke SB14, 1 minute and 9.54 seconds for 100m breaststroke SB14 as well as 4 minutes and 15.29 seconds for men’s team 4x100m medley relay.
Apart from that, powerlifter Nicodemus created new records when he notched the best lift with 205kg for men’s up to 88kg as well as 595kg for men’s up to 88kg (total lift).
“Additionally, Syaiful will represent Malaysia in Para Swimming World Championships 2023 held in Manchester, Great Britain from July 31 to Aug 6, 2023.
“This tournament will serve as a qualifier for Paralympic Games of Paris 2024 where the top two swimmers in each final medal event will be automatically selected to compete in the Paralympics.
“Meanwhile, Nicodemus will participate in the 4th Asian Para Games Hangzhou 2022 from Oct 22 to 28 this year,” she added. — DayakDaily
