KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s medal charge at the ASEAN Para Games gathered pace in Thailand as the athletes delivered 18 golds in athletics, swimming, powerlifting and table tennis to keep the national contingent firmly in the top three of the medal standings today.
Table tennis saw Jennatul Fahmi Ahmad Jannah claim the men’s singles TT11 gold after a composed performance to defeat host representative Sompom Tampettom 3-1 in the final, while Indonesia’s Ridwonullah took bronze.
In the women’s singles TT10, Gloria Gracia Wong Sze delivered gold after edging Indonesia’s Sella Dwi Radayana 3-2, with the bronze medals shared by Juliani Cici of Indonesia and Intira Chapandung of Thailand.
Powerlifting produced two gold medals for Malaysia as national para powerlifter Bibiana Ahmad finally ended her long wait by clinching her first gold medal in the women’s 67kg event with a winning lift of 95kg, beating Vietnam’s Tran Thi Chau (93kg) and Thailand’s Anon Somkhoun (92kg).
Akmal Danish Supi then secured the men’s 72kg gold with a lift of 171kg, ahead of Vietnam’s Nguyen Van Hung (168kg) and Thailand’s Kasanun Narong (162kg).
In boccia, Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim successfully defended her gold medal in the BC4 women’s individual after overcoming Thailand’s Phonsila Nuanchan, while Saewang Wilai of Thailand claimed bronze.
Malaysia continued their strong showing in swimming, with Nur Syaiful Zulkafli winning gold in the men’s 50m breaststroke SB4 in 45.34s, followed by Indonesia’s Mulyadi (46.13s) and Situmorang Simson Abraham (51.69s).
Bryan Lau Sze Kai topped the podium in the men’s 100m freestyle S14 with 55.55s, ahead of Thailand’s Kumarasing Phakhawat (55.95s), while Zhafri Adam Azmi secured bronze in 56.16s.
Rusdianto Rusmadi added his second gold of the Games by winning the men’s 100m butterfly S8 in 1:09.74. Vietnam’s Nguyen Quang Vuong was disqualified in the final, while Malaysian Shahafiq Abdullah did not start. Rusdianto had secured gold in the S8 50m butterfly on Thursday.
In fencing, Krisana Sriujun picked up his second gold in Korat after defeating Thailand’s Sanitmuanwai Boonsiri 15-10 in the men’s individual sabre A, having earlier won the epee gold on Monday.
Bowling also delivered gold through Azrin Rahim, who won the men’s singles TPB9 with 1,230 points, while compatriot Marcos Chang Hao Hong took silver with 1,198 and Low Chang Hong claimed bronze with 1,186.
On the track, sprinter Afiq Ali struck gold in the men’s 100m T12 after clocking 11.26s, ahead of Thailand’s Tisuwan Kissanapong (11.52s) and Noorhelmie Rabi (11.53s).
Afiq then completed a sprint double after winning the men’s 200m T12 gold in 22.89s to set a new Games record. Noorhelmie took silver in 23.31s, while Tisuwan settled for bronze in 23.49s.
Ivan Jovic Suan captured his third gold of the Games after winning the men’s 400m T44/T63/T64 in 56.42s, with Indonesia’s Diarta Ryan Arda finishing second in 57.55s and Thailand’s Khamta Phalathip third in 1:01.55.
Malaysia dominated the throws events as Fahmi Ramlan claimed gold in the men’s F11 shot put with a new Games record of 10.51m, beating Vietnam’s Do Ngoc Thang (8.69m) and Thailand’s Pucharan Surakiad (8.54m).
Fahmi then added another gold in the men’s F11 discus throw with a new Games record of 28.92m, with the Philippines’ Evaristo Carbonel taking silver (26.33m) and Surakiad settling for bronze (22.51m).
Afnan Azhar won the men’s javelin F40 gold with a throw of 30.07m, ahead of Vietnam’s Tran Van Nguyen (28.09m) and the Philippines’ Rocky Lograno (24.26m).
Former Paralympic champion Ziyad Zolkefli continued his dominance at the ASEAN Para Games after clinching his fifth consecutive F20 shot put gold with a throw of 16.81m. Compatriot Awi Alif claimed silver with 13.80m, while Thailand’s Boonkong Sanepot took bronze with 13.68m.
In the women’s F40/F41 shot put, Siti Zaidah Mokhtar clinched gold with a throw of 5.18m, while compatriot Mazzdiana Nuratasya Abd Rahim took silver (4.91m) and Myanmar’s Akari Chaw claimed bronze (4.64m).
At time of writing, Malaysia sit third in the medal standings with 33 golds, 34 silvers and 42 bronzes for a total of 109 medals. The national contingent are targeting 181 medals, regardless of colour, at the biennial Games.
Hosts Thailand continue to lead the standings comfortably with 109 gold, 102 silver and 82 bronze medals.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
