By DayakDaily Team
KUALA LUMPUR, July 30: World para-powerlifting champion from Sarawak, Bonnie Bunyau Gustin is the country’s hope to defend his gold medal at the Paris Paralympic Games 2024, scheduled from Aug 28 to Sept 8.
Sarawak Deputy Minister of Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Mohamad Razi Sitam highlighted that Bonnie is among the five Sarawak athletes representing Malaysia at the Games.
The other four athletes are Jong Yee Khie and Nicodemus Manggoi Moses in powerlifting, Abdul Razzaq Abdul Rahman in boccia and Mohamad Nur Saiful Zulkapli, who will make his debut in swimming.
“Bonnie is one of our top gold medal prospects, and we also have high hopes for Nur Saiful to win a medal at this Paralympics.
“These five athletes embody our aspiration to continue our legacy of winning gold at the global level,” he told Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) after representing Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah to pay a courtesy call on the FederaL Territoy of Kuala Lumpur Youth and Sports Department (JBSWPKL) today.
The visit aimed to invite the WP Kuala Lumpur contingent to participate in the Para Sukma XXI Sarawak Games, taking place from Sept 22 to 28.
As the head of the Para Sarawak contingent, Razi emphasised the Sarawak government’s commitment to supporting athletes with disabilities in events like Para Sukma and the Paralympics.
“We are proud to nurture talents like Bonnie Bunyau, who is now set to represent Malaysia in France,” he said.
Regarding the upcoming Para Sukma Games, he said all contingents are expected to arrive in Kuching on Sept 20.
“The Sarawak contingent is determined to be the overall champion in this edition,” he added.
Approximately 2,470 para athletes from across the country will compete in 10 sports across 334 events, all held in the Kuching Division.
The sports include swimming, track and field, badminton, table tennis, tenpin bowling, boccia, lawn bowls, powerlifting, archery, and chess.
Deputy Secretary to the Sarawak government and SUKMA Sarawak chief executive officer (CEO) Datu Hii Chang Kee, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Women, Children and Community Welfare Sarawak Datu Felicia Tan Ya Hua, Sarawak Social Welfare Department director Semawi Mohamad, JBSWPKL director Mohd Nizam Ismail, and its deputy director (Sports) Mohammad Pauzi Paiman were present. — DayakDaily
