Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s Para athletes contributed eight golds and one silver for the country at the 2022 Asean Para-Games in Surakarta, Indonesia that concluded last Saturday.
They helped Malaysia to finish in fourth place with a total of 36 gold, 20 silver and 14 bronze medals.
Swimmer Ethan Khoo was the toast of the team with three gold medals in the S14 category by winning the 100m freestyle (56.69s), 200m individual medley (2:27.230s) and 100m freestyle (2:05,250s).
The other four gold medals also came from the pool with Brenda Anellia Larry’s winning in the 50m backstroke/S4 (1:06.850), 100m breaststroke SB4 (2:38.170), and Abdul Halim Mohammad in the men’s 100m breaststroke/SB8 (1:18.610) and 50m breaststroke (34.820).
Track and field athlete Eddy Bernard also contributed a gold in the men’s long jump track/T44 (6.48m) and the silver in the 100m T44/62/64 silver 12.130.
Swimming coach Eva Wong, who accompanied the swimmers to the meet, was proud of their achievement and said all four had set new meet records.
“Apart from the seven gold medals from our swimmers, they also managed to set new records with their wins.
“Ethan and Abdul Halim rewrote three and two records respectively, while Brenda’s winning times are also considered new records as the events were held for the first time,” she said.
Meanwhile, Pesron Sabah (Sabah Sports and Recreation Association for People with Disabilities) president Tan Hwa Koon was present at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport to welcome the swimming team back home on Monday.
He congratulated the team and coaches for the successful outing and hopes the athletes will be able to deliver more to make the State and country proud in the future.
Also present were Youth and Sports Ministry’s permanent secretary Mansur Asun, his deputy Putera Jali and Sabah Sports Council director Mohd Asneh Mohd Noor.
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