Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Para contingent is on track to achieve their 66-gold medal target on the second day of the 2026 Malaysian Para Games (Para Sukma) in Selangor.
They secured a staggering 18 gold medals on Monday as of press time to improve the tally to 24 in total in addition to 15 silvers and 15 bronzes.
After delivering five gold medals on Sunday, the athletics contingent maintained their momentum by capturing 12 more golds.
The winners were Doriah Paulus (javelin F44/F54), Hazmi Bistani (javelin F12), Eljoe Gotuoh (triple jump T20), Bartholomew Marius (discus throw F33), Paijol Benhar (long jump T46/47), Connie Zeno (shot put F40), Mukhriz Ameer Izzudin Abd Rauf (400m T47), Ivsan Jovic Suan (400m T44), Renoddry Remey (400m T20), Nurul Sahada Hawani Abdullah (400m T20), Elvisius John (discus throw F56/57) and Jacklon Ganding (long jump T37).
The pool delivered four gold medals through Ethan Khoo, who set a 1:04.01 meet record in the 100m backstroke S14, alongside Suryyan Shah Malik (100m backstroke SB8), Abd Halim Mohammad (100m breaststroke), and Wahyu Eqwal Nazrey (50m freestyle S4/5).
Two more golds came from tenpin bowling courtesy of Muhd Azri Azman (individual TPB3) and Azuan Amirhassan (individual TPB1).
Meanwhile, Charmian Sikajat led the opening-day gold medallists by setting a new meet record of 11.70 metres in the women’s F20 shot put.
Joining her at the top of the podium were fellow track and field athletes Muhamad Shaban Shahid (100m T45), Eljoe Gotuoh (long jump T20), Mohamad Syahzwan William (shot put F20), and Mohamad Faqrul Nizam (shot put F33), alongside table tennis player Mohd Nazizul Hamzah (class 6-7).
Eljoe completed a Para Sukma hat-trick by capturing his third consecutive gold medal in the men’s T20 long jump with a leap of 7.06 metres, which was also his personal best for the year.
Competing in his third Para Sukma, Eljoe said retaining the title for a third successive Games had been his target heading into Selangor.
“This is my third Para Sukma and I was targeting the hat-trick, so I am grateful that I managed to maintain my performance and become champion for the third time,” he said.
Eljoe believed an even bigger jump was within reach had he executed his landing better.
“If the landing technique had been right, I think I could have reached 7.20m or 7.30m. But I am very grateful for the 7.06m because it is my personal best this year.
Earlier this year, I had only just managed to get back beyond six metres,” he said.
Meanwhile, tears flowed for Sabah table tennis veteran Mohd Nazizul after he capped a remarkable decade of dominance with his fifth consecutive Para Sukma gold.
The 39-year-old from Pengalat Besar, Papar, defeated Johor’s Mohamad Kamal Mohamad Adam 11-2, 11-4, 11-3 in the men’s Class 6-7 singles final at Dewan Bukit Raja, MBDK.
The victory was particularly emotional as Selangor 2026 could be Nazizul’s final Para Sukma appearance, as he will be over 40 by the next edition.
His straight-sets victory extended an extraordinary run which began when he won gold at Sarawak 2016. He successfully defended the title at Perak 2018, Kuala Lumpur 2022 and Sarawak 2024 before completing his fifth consecutive triumph in Selangor.
Nazizul said he was grateful to have delivered another gold for Sabah and urged his teammates who still have events remaining to fight until the very end.
In swimming, Abdul Halim Mohammad continued his dominance in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB8 by taking gold in 1:15.79 at the Selangor Aquatic Centre.
He finished well ahead of Penang’s Muhammad Amirul Amin Amron, who took silver in 1:48.27, while Federal Territories’ Muhammad Firdaus Irwandi claimed bronze in 1:48.95.
Halim’s winning time was also faster than the 1:16.11 he clocked when winning the same event at the 2024 Para Sukma in Sarawak.
The experienced swimmer entered the Selangor Games with an impressive international record, having been named Malaysia’s best athlete at the 2025 Asean Para Games in Thailand.
He also reached the men’s 50m freestyle S8 final at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore, finishing sixth after clocking a personal best of 27.16 seconds in the heats.
