Athletes’ Sacrifices At Asian Para Games Impress Mohammed Taufiq

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- The sacrifices made by national para athletes competing despite injuries were among the things that caught the attention of Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari when he witnessed Malaysia’s contingent in action at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games in Japan recently.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Mohammed Taufiq expressed pride in the national athletes’ achievements in meeting the target of six gold medals at the Games, describing each success as the result of significant sacrifice.

He said that during his time in Japan, he witnessed first-hand the sacrifices made by athletes who battled injuries and various challenges in their quest to achieve success for the country.

Among the achievements that caught his attention was national men’s para cyclist Zuhairie Ahmad Tarmizi’s success in winning the country’s first gold medal in the C4-C5 1,000m time trial, while also breaking the Games record with a time of 1 minute 4.882 seconds.

“National powerlifting star Bonnie Bunyau Gustin overcame a shoulder injury and still managed to lift 225kg to defend his 72kg title. I witnessed para athletics athlete Datuk Abdul Latif Romly dominate the T20 long jump once again with a leap of 7.39m. I was also at the Rainbow Pool when national para swimmer Muhammad Nur Syaiful Zulkafli won gold in the SB4 100m breaststroke.

“Para badminton player Cheah Liek Hou competed with a torn thigh muscle but, together with Mohamad Faris Azri, still clinched gold in the SU5 doubles. Wong Kar Gee, a part-time athlete who is also an entrepreneur and PhD candidate, proved that extraordinary commitment ultimately pays off with gold in the T12 long jump,” he said in the statement.

He also recalled the fighting spirit of national para cyclist Nur Azlia Syafinaz and her pilot, Nurul Suhada, who picked themselves up and continued the race after a fall on the road, while national para swimmer Carmen Lim ended the country’s 12-year wait for a medal in the S8 50m freestyle by winning bronze.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Taufiq expressed his appreciation to the coaches, medical team, mechanics, loaders, officials and athletes’ families, who played important roles behind the contingent’s success.

He also acknowledged the support of the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS), Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPM), National Sports Council (MSN), National Sports Institute (ISN) and Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia (ADAMAS) in ensuring the athletes’ preparations and participation went smoothly.

-- BERNAMA