APG 2025: Malaysia 29 Medals Short Of 181 Target Ahead Of Final Day Of Competition

From Farah Najihah Zuraimi

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- With just one day of competition left at the ASEAN Para Games (APG) Thailand 2025, Malaysia are 29 medals short of achieving their 181-medal target.

At the end of the penultimate day today, the national contingent have raked in 49 golds, 44 silvers and 59 bronzes for an overall total of 152 medals, which is not only an encouraging achievement but one that has also surpassed the 123 medals won in the 2023 edition in Cambodia.

Despite the marked improvement, the question remains, can Malaysian para athletes achieve chef de mission Mohd Zarrawi Ravi Abdullah's 55-gold target, thereby exceeding the 2023 haul by five?

As of today, the athletics squad has emerged as the biggest medal contributor with a haul of 18 golds, 17 silvers and 20 bronzes, further strengthening its status as the Malaysian contingent's pillar of strength in the biennial Para Games.

National sprinter Ivan Jovic Suan emerged as the track star when he blitzed his way to three gold medals in the T44/T63 400-metre (m), T44 200m and T44 100m events.

In the field events, Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli remains the country's main hope, reasserting his dominance in the men's F20 shot put event to take home his eighth gold medal in the APG since his debut in the 2009 edition.

Powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin also shone brightly for the country when he performed with maturity and poise en route to lifting 201 kilogrammes (kg) to clinch gold in the men's 80kg category. 

The vastly experienced Bonnie not only cemented his reputation as one of the world's finest powerlifters but also gave the national camp an added impetus ahead of the final day of competition.

Malaysia's focus tomorrow will be on para badminton, with Cheah Liek Hou taking on Indonesia's Dheva Anrimusthi in the men’s singles SU5 title showdown.

Malaysia will also be hoping for a medal rush in athletics, swimming, track cycling and powerlifting tomorrow to achieve their 181-medal target.    

Meanwhile, hosts Thailand continue to lead the medal standings with 143 golds, 135 silvers and 117 bronzes for an overall total of 395 medals, followed by Indonesia with a haul of 101-103-88 for a 292-medal haul.

The 13th edition of the APG officially ends with the closing ceremony on Monday (Jan 26). 

-- BERNAMA