MALAYSIA were closing in on their 35-medal target for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Para Games (Para Asiad) after clinching three golds, five silvers and four bronzes today.

Malaysia have amassed seven golds, 11 silvers and 11 bronzes to remain in eighth spot in the medal standings, and need just six more medals to meet its target.

Powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin delivered gold number five in the men’s 72kg event at the Xiaoshan Gymnasium today after he lifted 230kg to set a new Games record.

The athletics camp did not disappoint either, contributing one gold and one bronze.

Gold number six came courtesy of Muhammad Ammar Aiman Nor Azmi in the men’s 400m T20 (intellectual impairment) event, while the bronze was delivered by Ahmad Fizzi Rosni in the men’s 400m T36 (physical impairment) category.

Boccia also delivered good news, with Malaysia winning one gold and two silvers. Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim struck gold in the women’s BC4 event while the two silvers were contributed by Angeline Melissa Lawas (women’s BC1 category) and Lee Chee Hoong (men’s BC2 event).

Malaysia also clinched one silver and one bronze in track cycling through Muhammad Adi Raimie Amizazahan in the men’s 3,000m individual pursuit C3 and Mohamad Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin in the men’s 3,000m individual pursuit C1 event at the Chun’ An Jieshou Sports Centre Velodrome.

At the Aquatic Sports Arena, national swimmer Muhammad Nur Syaiful Zulkafli, the 2018 edition silver medallist, won a bronze in the men’s 100m freestyle S5 (physical impairment) category.

The national lawn bowlers raked in two silvers – through Muhamad Ayub Mohd (men’s singles B2 category) and Haszelly Elias (men’s singles B7 class) – and a bronze through Jariah Zakaria (women’s singles B7).

China were still perched atop the medal standings with a haul of 118 golds, 96 silvers and 86 bronzes, followed by Iran (24-30-19) and Japan (20-21-28). – Bernama, October 25, 2023.