KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian contingent continued to build momentum at the ASEAN Para Games in Thailand with gold medal successes in bowling, athletics and swimming.
In bowling, Abg Yahya Abg Azhar struck gold in the PTB4 (intellectual impairment) men’s singles at the Blu-O Rhythm and Bowl.
The Sarawakian topped the standings with a total of 1,243 pins, finishing ahead of teammate Razif Iskandar Abdul Muiz, who claimed silver with 1,136 pins, while Thailand’s Suaithong Phongsakon took bronze on 1,106.
It marked Abg Yahya’s first ASEAN Para Games title since the 2017 Kuala Lumpur edition.
Athletics delivered a rich haul, led by Fahmi Ramlan, who set a new Games record in the men’s discus F11 final with a throw of 28.92m.
Evaristo Carbonel of the Philippines settled for silver with 26.33m, while Thailand’s Surakiad Pucharan claimed bronze with 22.51m.
Malaysia then swept the podium in the men’s javelin F20, with Eljoe Gotouh winning gold after throwing 43.14m, ahead of Ziyad Zolkefli (40.85m) and Awi Aliff (21.60m).
E. Hemala Devi added another gold in the women’s shot put F12 with a best effort of 9.75m, beating Indonesia’s Elsa Nur Fitriana (8.92m) and Thailand’s Suphattha Inkhaoyo (8.89m).
In the men’s long jump T13, Saifuddin Ishak claimed gold with a leap of 6.09m in a two-man final against Laos’ Bounphet Thepthida, who managed 5.34m.
Sprint events also went Malaysia’s way, with Afiq Ali Hanafiah clocking 11.26s to win the men’s T12 100m final, ahead of Thailand’s Kissanapong Tisuwan (11.52s), while Noor Helmie Rabi took bronze in 11.53s.
Teenager Ivan Jovic Suan clinched his second gold in Korat by winning the men’s T44 100m final in 11.61s, with compatriot Eddy Bernard taking silver (11.90s) and Indonesia’s Ashari Maulana bronze (11.94s).
The 17-year-old Ivan had earlier won gold in the men’s 200m T44 on Wednesday.
In the pool, Rusdianto Rusmawi delivered Malaysia’s first swimming gold of the Games by winning the men’s S8 50m butterfly in 30.54s.
The 33-year-old finished ahead of Vietnam’s Vo Huynh Anh Khoa (31.26s) and Han Quang Thoai (33.41s), after having earlier claimed silver in the 100m backstroke.
Rusdianto, who lost his right arm in a motorcycle accident in 2013, joined the national team four years ago, with his victory following eight silver and 11 bronze medals collected by the swimming squad over the first two days.
As of writing, the national contingent sit third in the medal standings with 17 gold, 20 silver and 30 bronze at the games.
Malaysia are aiming to win 181 medals – regardless of colour – at the biennial competition.
As expected, hosts Thailand comfortably lead the competition on a 67-57-51 haul.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
