PETALING JAYA: Can history repeat itself and the para powerlifting squad come back with a two-medal haul from Paris Paralympics?
Two-time Paralympic champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin hopes so. The 25-year-old will be rooting for his teammate and good friend Jong Yee Khie to upset the formbooks in the men’s 107kg category today.
Ready for lift-off: Jong Yee Khie will be defending the silver he won in the men’s 107kg category at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Yee Khie will be the final medal hope for Malaysia as the last athlete in action at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena in Paris.
Yee Khie will start with 208kg for his first lift. On the other hand, the defending champion Enkhbayar Sodnompiljee from Mongolia starts on 240kg while current world record holder Aliakbar Gharibshahi of Iran opens with a massive 247kg.
But Bonnie is optimistic his fellow Sarawakian will not be lacking in fighting spirit in the hope of defending the silver he won in the men’s 107kg category at the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago.
“He is not the favourite but anything can happen on competition day.
“In Tokyo, Yee Khie was also not expected to get a medal but he proved everyone wrong by contributing the silver.
“I am happy we have three powerlifters in the fray in Paris (Nicodemus Manggoi Moses was competing in the men’s 97kg at press time) this time,” said Bonnie, who set a new world record of 232kg to retain his men’s 72kg title on Friday.
Shuttler Cheah Liek Hou won the country’s first gold medal when he won the men’s singles SU5 event last Sunday.
Malaysia also got a silver through Ziyad Zolkefli (men’s shot putt F20) and a bronze through Eddy Bernard (men’s 100m T44 event).
The para cycling team closed their campaign with Mohd Adi Raimie Amizazahan and Mohd Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin finishing 16th (1’56:23) and 26th (2’08:46) respectively in the men’s C1-3 road race event yesterday.
British cyclist Graham Finlay claimed the gold in 1’43:19 ahead of host country competitors Thomas Peyroton-Dartet (1’43:19) and Alexandre Leaute (1’43:43).
