Bonnie dedicates gold to brother
Published on: Thursday, October 26, 2023
By: Bernama
Bonnie showing his gold medal won in his second appearance at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou.
HANGZHOU: National powerlifting champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin dedicated the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Para Games gold medal he won in the men’s 72kg event Wednesday to his brother.The 24-year-old strongman said the presence of his brother Bryan Junency Gustin, 26, who would compete in the 80kg event, was a motivational factor for him to finally win his maiden gold medal at the Games and ensure that Malaysia’s national anthem, “Negaraku”, could reverberate in the hall.ADVERTISEMENT
Bonnie, a dwarf-sized powerlifter, standing at only 132cm from Serian, Sarawak, making only his second appearance at the Asian Para Games, bagged the gold medal when he lifted 230kg – which is also a new Games record in the Xiaoshan Gymnasium.
The record was previously held by Iranian powerlifter Roohallah Rostami with a 229kg lift.
“Bryan’s presence helped me in winning this gold medal. I hope this gold will inspire him to win a medal for his events later,” Bonnie told Bernama.
“In any case, I am very happy with today’s success because I also broke the APG record.”
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The silver medal went to home challenger Hu Peng with a lift of 208kg while the bronze was won by Uzbekistan’s Jamilov Bekzod with 204kg.
Bonnie’s success Wednesdday brings Malaysia’s gold medal tally to five, with swimming and track cycling each contributing one gold medal and athletics contributing two.
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Meanwhile, the national boccia players kept the medal momentum going in the Hangzhou Asian Para Games (APG) by contributing a gold and two silvers on Wednesday.
The national anthem of NegaraKu reverberated around the Hangzhou Gymnasium when Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim clinched the maiden boccia gold in the women’s BC4 event while Angeline Melissa Lawas and Lee Chee Hoong contributed the silver medals.
Noor Askuzaimey, the Cambodia Asean Para Games gold medallist, emerged triumphant here when she defeated homester Lin Ximei 3-2 in the BC4 final. (The BC4 category contains players with non-cerebral impairments that also impact their coordination.)
Yuen Cheung of Hong Kong took bronze after overcoming Thailand’s Nuanchan Phonsila 3-2.
However, there was no such luck for Malaysia’s Chee Hoong when he lost 5-3 to Indonesia’s Felix Ardi Yudha in the final of the men’s BC2 event. (The BC2 class players have better trunk and arm function than those in class BC1. The abilities of their arms and hands often allow them to throw the ball overhand and underhand and with a variety of grasps.)
South Korea’s Lee Chung Ho took home the bronze after defeating Thailand’s Watcharaphon Vongsa 4-2.
Malaysia’s Angeline Melissa also fell short in the women’s BC1 final when she lost 8-2 to China’s Qi Zhang while Thailand’s Satanan Phromsiri settled for bronze after defeating 2016 Rio Paralympic gold medallist Furiko Fujii of Japan 7-1. (The BC1 category athletes have severe activity limitations affecting their legs, arms and trunk, and are typically dependent on a powered wheelchair.)
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