Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah government is offering a reward of RM500,000 to state athletes who win a gold medal in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games which will be held from Aug 28 to Sept 8.
Sabah youth and sports minister Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin said only three Sabah athletes were selected to represent the country in the Paralympics: Jonathan Wong (men’s long jump T12), Eddy Bernard (men’s 100m T44) and Amin Burhanuddin (badminton SL4).
He hopes that one of the three men can spring a surprise by bringing home the gold medal and glory to the state and country.
“If we look at the performance of the long jumper (Wong), we expect at least a silver medal. Hopefully, there will be a gold (medal) surprise for Malaysia from the Sabah athlete. Wong has been training hard.
"The same goes for Eddy and Amin. They have been training hard and can surprise (us) by bringing home medals," he said here today.
Ellron said no Sabahan had ever brought home a Paralympic gold, and hopes at least one of the three will be able to create history.
The three Sabahans are among 29 para-athletes confirmed to represent Malaysia in this edition of the Paralympic Games.
