Sabah athletes win 10 events at 13th Asean Para Games

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 27): Sabah para athletes delivered a strong performance at the recently concluded 13th Asean Para Games (APG) in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, contributing a total of 10 gold, 15 silver and 15 bronze medals to the national contingent.

The tally exceeded the eight-gold target set by the Ministry of Youth Development, Sports Advancement and Creative Economy (MYSpaCE).

Swim ace Abdul Halim Mohammad and sprinter Ivan Jovic Suan were the top performing state athletes, winning five and three gold medals each.

Abdul Halim capped his five-star performance by setting four new meet records in the 100m freestyle S8 in 1:02.91s, 50m breastroke S8 (34.33s), 100m breastroke S8 (1:16.16s) and 50m freestyle S9 (27.56s). His other gold came in the 200m Individual Medley S7-8 (2:41.89s).

Sabah swimmers also contributed eight silver and nine bronze medals. The silver were from Wahyu Eqwal Nazrey in the 50m S5 Multi Class Backstroke (43.22s) and Butterfly (42.30s); Shahafiq Abdullah (100m Breastroke SB7 Multi Class – 1:41.98s); Ethan Khoo Yin Jun (200m IM SM14 Multi Class – 2:21.41s and 400m IM SM14 Multi Class – 5:08.47s); Sharlinie Valerie Voo Wen Qin (50m Freestyle S6 Multi Class – 51.17s); Brenda Annelia Larry, Wahyu and Sharlinie (Mixed 4x50m Medley Relay 20 points S1-10 – 3:19.19s and
Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay 34pts S1-10 – 4:53.08s).

The bronze medallists in swimming were Shahafiq (200m Breaststroke SB7 Multi Class – 3:51.11s); Brenda (50 LC Meter Backstroke S4-S5 Multi Class – 1:00.89s); Wahyu (100m Butterfly S5 Multi Class – 1:37.18s and 100m Backstroke S5 Multi Class – 1:34.15s); Ethan (100m Backstroke S14 Multi Class – 1:05.17s), 400m Freestyle S14 Multi Class – 4:33.69s), Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay S14 – 4:26.03s and Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay S14 – 4:56.29s); and Abdul Halim (Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay S1-10 34 points).

In athletics, Ivan led the charge of Sabahan athletes to win five gold, seven silver and three bronze medals.
Tuaran lad Ivan completed a unique sprint treble, winning the 100m T44 in 11.61s, 200m T44 in a new Games record of 24.25s and in the 400m T64 (T44/63/64) in 56.42s. Heronlee Wong in the discus F37 (37.40m) and Jonathan Wong Kar Gee in the long jump T12 (6.83m) were the other gold medal winners in athletics.

The silver medalists were Eljoe Gotuoh (long jump T20- 6.86m); Eddy Bernard (100m T44 – 11.90s and long jump T42/44/63 – 6.40m); Elissieball Jonal (400m T20 – 1:03.74s); Doriah Poulus (javelin combine F42/F44/F63/F64 – 27.54m) and shot putt F64 – 8.70m GR) and Charmian Sikajat (shot putt F20 – 11.51m).

Bronze medals were picked up by Heronlee (javelin F37- 35.69m); Elissieball (Long Jump T20 – 5.00m); and Adderin Majurin (shot putt F34 – 6.83m).

The three remaining bronze medals were delivered by Mohd Fauzan Ramlan in the Men’s up to 107kg powerlifting, Muhammad Lizan Mat Sittim (table tennis TT3 men’s single) and Brady Chin Zi Ping (table tennis men’s double MD18).

Sabah also won a silver and a bronze from Norfitriwati Mat Salleh but the medals were not included in the official tally as lawn bowls was only a demonstration sport.

Meanwhile, the state sports minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan led a delegation of senior sports officials to cheer on Sabah’s para national athletes competing in Thailand from January 22-25.

MYApaCE permanent secretary Datuk Mansur Asun, Sabah Sports Council (MSN Sabah) director Mohd Asneh Mohd Noor and Sabah Sports Board (SSB) chairman Syed Ahmad Syed Abas were also in the travelling group.

The delegation visited the national contingent secretariat and met Paralympic Council of Malaysia and National Sports Council top officials as well as visiting sports facilities.

The minister also visited competitions venues and had networking sessions with state officials and para athletes.

He also visited swimmer Shahafiq whose APG campaign was severely affected due to fever that saw him hospitalised.

“The visit was intended to boost morale and to present tokens of appreciation on behalf of the state government to the Sabah athletes competing in the Games.

“It was an oustanding achievement from the state Para athletes,” Nizam was quoted in Facebook/Majlis Sukan Negeri Sabah.

On behalf of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, Nizam said the state government as well as all Sabahans were proud of the Para athletes.

For the record, Malaysia finished third overall in the APG with 64 gold, 64 silver and 73 bronze medals.
Host Thailand topped the medal standing with with 175-155-157 followed by Indonesia with 134-143-114.