Cheers accompanied by applause greeted the national para contingent at Terminal 1 of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as they made their triumphant return from Paris Paralympic Games, September 10, 2024. They are (infront from left) powerlifting Bonnie Bunyau Gustin and shuttler Cheah Liek Hou. With them are (behind from left) athletics Datuk Abdul Latif Romly, Eddy Bernard and Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli. — GLENN GUAN/The Star
SEPANG: The Malaysian contingent's performance is still commendable despite falling short of the four-gold medal target at the just concluded Paris Paralympics.
The National Sports Council (NSC) director general Abdul Rashid Yaakub said the para athletes had done well by bringing home two golds, two silvers and one bronze medals.
"If we look at the (2020) Tokyo Paralympics up to now, the total number of medals remains the same at five.
"The Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) set the target to win four golds and we supported it but we did not achieve it.
"We accept that we fell short but those who didn’t win gold managed to win silver...even the silver medals are a significant achievement and they have done their best to win gold.
"However, in the final moments, the gold slipped away to other countries through the last jump or the second or third throw," said Rashid, who arrived home with the national contingent from Paris at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Tuesday evening.
The 30-member strong Malaysian contingent received a hero's welcome in KLIA and were greeted by the Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
The family members of the para athletes were also present.
Hannah later presented commemorative plaques to all 30 athletes.
Malaysia finished in 42nd place overall in Paris and the two gold medals were won by para badminton champion Cheah Liek Hou in the men’s singles SU5 event and powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin in the men's 72kg category.
The silver medals were secured by Abdul Latif Romly in the men's T20 long jump and Ziyad Zolkefli in the men's F20 shot putt. Eddy Bernard claimed the bronze medal in the men's 100m T44 event.
