Sarawak’s para athletes win 38 medals at Asean Games

KUCHING (Jan 28): Sarawak para athletes have contributed significantly to Malaysia’s success at the 13th Asean Para Games (APG) in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, after winning a total of 38 medals comprising 13 gold, 15 silver and 10 bronze.

According to a press statement from the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak, the contribution represented 18.9 per cent of Malaysia’s overall medal haul and nearly one in every five medals won by the national contingent.

Malaysia concluded the Games with a tally of 201 medals (64 gold, 64 silver and 73 bronze). The success of Sarawak’s para athletes spanned the eight sports of athletics, swimming, tenpin bowling, powerlifting, table tennis, archery, boccia and wheelchair basketball.

Swimming emerged as the biggest medal contributor with three gold, 10 silver and five bronze medals followed by athletics. Tenpin bowling and powerlifting each contributed three gold medals.

Two Sarawak athletes set new Games records. Colorine Sijang won the women’s discus throw F40 and F41 while Noshazwani Maisara Marzuki claimed gold in the women’s javelin throw F37.

Both were making their APG debut.

Bibiana Ahmad, who won the women’s 67kg powerlifting event, became the first Sarawakian woman to do so in the sport.

In para swimming, Rusdianto Rusmadi emerged as Sarawak’s top performer in swimming with two individual gold medals while Muhd Nur Syyaiful Zulkafli won the men’s 50m breaststroke. Bonnie Bunyau Gustin continued his dominance by securing gold in the men’s 80kg powerlifting event.

Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, who attended the closing ceremony of the Games, congratulated the Sarawak athletes.

The 38-medal haul was a reflection of their discipline and fighting spirit, she said.

She also reaffirmed the Sarawak government’s continued commitment to supporting para sports development and athlete welfare.

​The 13th APG was held in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Thailand from Jan 20 to 26.