National powerlifting athletes Bonnie and Jong have made Malaysia proud by winning medals in the men’s 72kg and 107kg category at the Paralympic Games.
Bonnie Bunyau Gustin won Malaysia’s first gold two days ago, while Jong Yee Khie won silver yesterday. Jong won the men’s 107kg category on his second attempt, lifting 237kg, while Bonnie set a new Paralympic record by lifting 228kg.
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Bonnie, Saeawakian born in Serian, broke the Games’ record of 227kg set by Irag’s Rasool Mohsin at the Rio 2016 Paralympics when he lifted 228kg in his third attempt on the first day of competition. Bonnie failed to break his own world record of 230kg, which he set last June in the 11th Fazza Dubai Powerlifting World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. During his fourth effort in Tokyo, he was unable to clear 231kg.
The silver medal was won by Egyptian athlete Mahmoud Attia while the bronze went to Micky Yule of Great Britain.
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Jong, a 32-year-old hairdresser from Kuching’s Batu Kawa, failed his third and final attempt to lift 245kg. His achievement more than makes up for his disappointment in Rio 2016, when he completed seventh in the 97kg category in his Paralympic debut.
This is the second medal won by Jong, after Bonnie who competed in the men’s 72kg category. Bonnie not only won gold, but also broke the Paralympics record after lifting 228kg.
During today’s action at the Tokyo International Forum, the medalist was defeated by Mongolian athlete Sodnompiljee Enkhbayar, who lifted 245kg, a new Paralympics record for the category. Saman Razi of Iran won bronze with a lift of 231kg.
