By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 27: Sarawak para athletes delivered an outstanding performance at the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Thailand, contributing 38 medals, comprising 13 gold, 15 silver and 10 bronze, to Malaysia’s overall haul.
According to a report by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), the achievement reinforced Sarawak’s role as a key contributor to the national contingent’s success at the biennial Games.
Malaysia finished the Games with a total of 201 medals, comprising 64 gold, 64 silver and 73 bronze, with Sarawak athletes accounting for 18.9 per cent of the overall tally, nearly one in every five medals won by the country.
The medals were secured across eight sports, namely athletics, swimming, tenpin bowling, powerlifting, table tennis, archery, boccia and wheelchair basketball.
Para swimming emerged as the largest contributor, with three gold, 10 silver and five bronze medals, followed by athletics. Tenpin bowling and powerlifting each added three gold medals to Sarawak’s tally.
Several Sarawak athletes also made history at the Games by setting new records. Among them were Colorine Sijang, who won gold in the women’s discus throw F40 and F41 events, and Noshazwani Maisara Marzuki, who claimed gold in the women’s javelin throw F37, both on their maiden appearances at the Games.
Bibiana Ahmad also etched her name in the record books as the first Sarawak woman to win a gold medal in the 67-kilogram powerlifting category.
In swimming, Rusdianto Rusmadi stood out as the most successful athlete, winning two individual gold medals, while Muhd Nur Syyaiful Zulkafli contributed a gold medal in the men’s 50-metre breaststroke.
As expected, national powerlifting star Bonnie Bunyau Gustin maintained his dominance by successfully defending his title with a gold medal in the men’s 80-kilogram category.
Sarawak Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, who attended the closing ceremony of the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, congratulated all Sarawak para athletes on their remarkable achievements.
“The contribution of 38 medals by Sarawak athletes was a proud moment not only for the State but also for the nation as a whole.
“The discipline, determination and fighting spirit of the athletes were clearly reflected in their performances, including record-breaking feats and first-time gold medal victories,” she said.
She also reaffirmed the Sarawak government’s continued commitment to strengthening para sports development and athlete welfare as a long-term investment in building an inclusive and resilient human capital for the State. — DayakDaily
