KUALA LUMPUR: The national contingent added another 15 gold medals to their haul on the final day of competition to secure a commendable top-three finish at the Thailand Asean Para Games on Sunday.
In athletics, Wong Kar Gee delivered Malaysia’s 55th gold medal of the games – which had been targeted by chef de mission Zarrawi Ravi Abdullah – after winning the men’s long jump T12 in a new games record of 6.83 metres.
Norshazwani Maisara Marzuki was also triumphant in the women’s javelin F37 with 19.41m effort.
In wheelchair tennis, Mohamad Yusshazwan Yusoff delivered Malaysia’s 181st medal of the games – the official target set by the Youth and Sports Ministry and Paralympic Council of Malaysia – after beating Thailand’s Kittiphong Wongcharoen 6-2, 7-6 (5) in the men’s singles final.
In badminton, Noor Azwan Noorlan-Ikhwan Ramli claimed the men’s doubles WH1-2 gold after beating Indonesia’s Supriadi-Agong Widodo 21-17, 21-10 in the final.
It, however, was not to be for Paralympic gold medallist Cheah Liek Hou who lost 21-19, 21-15 to Indonesia’s Dheva Anrimusthi in the men’s singles SU5 final.
Liek Hou and partner Faris Ahmad Azri also settled for silver in the men’s doubles SU5 categori after going down 21-15, 21-11 to Dheva-Hafizh Brilliansyah (Indonesia) in the decider.
Malaysian riders continued to shine in track cycling with Khairul Hazwan Wahab and pilot Khairul Adha Rasol (men’s B tandem sprint), Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin (men’s individual pursuit C1-C3) as well as Nur Azlia Syafinaz Mohd Zais and pilot Nurul Suhada Zainal (women’s B individual pursuit) all winning gold in their respective events.
In swimming, Abdul Halim Mohammad, who bagged three gold on Saturday (Jan 24) was again in his element, adding the men’s 50m breaststroke SB8 (34.33s) and 100m freestyle S8 (1:02.91s) gold medals to his personal haul today.
Carmen Lim was also in fine form, winning the women’s 50m freestyle S8 (35.44s) gold while Safwan Suhaimi won the men’s 50m backstroke S9 (33.00s).
In boccia, Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim and Hanafi Mohd Rosli claimed the mixed pair BC4 gold, finishing ahead of Thailand and Indonesia who settled for silver and bronze respectively.
Powerlifter Wan Nur Azri Wan Azman clinched gold in the men’s over-107kg class after clearing 176kg in the final.
In tenpin bowling, Wong Kee Soon-Marcos Chang emerged victorious in the mixed doubles TPB9+TPB9 class after scoring 2,506 pinfalls in the final.
In table tennis, Hazlin Abdullah and Jennahtul Fahmi Ahmad Jennah won the men’s doubles TT22 gold after beating Thailand’s Ekkarin Chaiprathum-Khunanon Didsunon 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 in their final round robin match.
The national contingent ended their campaign in Nakhon Ratchasima with 64 gold, 64 silver and 73 bronze medals to secure third place overall in the medal table.
Heavyweights Indonesia settled for second on 134-143-114 while hosts Thailand emerged overall champions by a country mile on 175-155-157.
The closing ceremony for the Thailand Asean Para Games will be held tomorrow (Jan 26).
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
