Kota Kinabalu: The leaderboard saw a fierce tug-of-war on day three of the 2026 Para Sukma Games, with Sabah and hosts Selangor repeatedly overtaking each other for the top spot.
Despite surpassing the halfway mark of their 66-gold target by lunchtime, Sabah lost their overnight lead. At press time, they held second place with 44 gold, 30 silver and 23 bronze medals.
They trail leaders Selangor by just three bronze medals, as the new table-toppers boast a haul of 44 golds, 30 silvers and 26 bronzes.
Meanwhile, defending champions Sarawak sat in third place with 30 golds, 18 silvers and 31 bronzes.
The gold medal contributors for Sabah on Tuesday featured a strong showing from the swimming team, including Wahyu Eqwal Nazrey (100m backstroke S5/6), Suriyan Shah Malik (100m backstroke S11 & 100m freestyle S11) and Chia Faang Jann (50m breaststroke SB4).
The winning streak continued in athletics with outstanding performances from Danny Hadid (800m T20), Connie Zeno (discus throw F40), Shamli Waidi (shot put F35/36), Adelleein Martin (javelin F44/64), Jericho Hedryld Harry (discus throw F46), Ivan Jovic Suna (200m T42/42/44), Mukhriz Ameer Izzudin Abd Rauf (200m T47), Heronlee Wong (discus throw F37) and Bartholomew Marius (javelin F33), while table tennis player Brady Chin Zi Rong (class 9) also secured a gold medal.
The silver medals were captured by athletics Paijol Benhar (200m T46), Fredechi Asri (discus throw F49), Andrian Shah Bagudan (javelin F44/64) and Mohd Faqrul Nizam (javelin F33).
In swimming, silvers went to Jonathan Wong Zee Siang (50m breaststroke SB4), Shahafiq Abdullah (100m backstroke S7/8), Chen Zai Sheng (100m breaststroke SB13 & 50m freestyle S13), Abd Halim Mohammad (200m individual medley SM7/8) and the 4x100m mixed relay team.
Table tennis players Aliff Aldih (Class 9) and Muhd Lizan Mat Sittim (Class 1-3) also secured silver finishes.
Meanwhile, the bronze medals came from Jacklon Ganding (200m T37), Shazaidi Shah Maryadi (200m T38), Nelson Sevilin (200m T35/36) and Rudy Benjamin (discus throw F37) in athletics.
They were joined on the podium by swimmers Nursuhailah Rudi (50m breaststroke SB14), Sharlinie Valerie Voo (50m freestyle S6-8) and Shahafiq Abdullah (200m individual medley SM7/8).
