Malaysia end Asean Para Games on a high as athletics deliver bulk of gold

Superb show: Wong Kar Gee won the men’s T12 (visual impairment) long jump with a 6.83m – a new Asean Para Games record. — AFP

PETALING JAYA: Men’s long jumper Wong Kar Gee and women’s javelin thrower Norshazwani Maisara Marzuki provided a golden finish to Malaysia’s athletics campaign at the Asean Para Games, as the contingent wrapped up their stint in Thailand on a high.

Malaysia finished third overall with an impressive haul of 64 gold, 64 silver and 73 bronze medals.

The top two countries were hosts Thailand with 175 gold, 156 silver and 153 bronze, followed by Indonesia on 131-137-113.

The victories of Kar Gee and Norshazwani on the final day capped a superb showing by the Malaysian athletics squad, who delivered a remarkable 40 gold medals, which was their best return at the biennial Games.

Swimming followed as the second most productive sport with 13 golds.

Kar Gee had every reason to smile after producing a Games-record leap of 6.83m to win the men’s T12 (visual impairment) long jump, a result that also sealed Malaysia’s targeted 55th gold medal.

The 34-year-old finished ahead of Ahmad Zuaiman Shamsuddin (6.35m) and Mohd Nazri Hazmi Mohan (6.31m).

“This is a very special moment. I’m really happy to give Malaysia this 55th gold. It’s a significant number and it feels great to have achieved our target,” said Kar Gee.

“It’s been a long journey with lots of training. This is my first competition of the year, and I’m pleased with the result.”

Norshazwani added to the celebrations by hurling 19.41m to clinch the women’s F37 javelin title.

Malaysia also reached their overall medal target of 181 after national wheelchair tennis ace Mohd Yusshazwan Yusoff defeated Thailand’s Wongcharoen Kittiphong 6-2, 7-6 (5) in the final.

“I had promised my wife and family that I would bring back a medal, hoping it would be gold and I did it,” said the 30-year-old. “My wife told me the real fight is with myself, not my opponent, and those words will stay with me forever.”

In the end, Malaysia surpassed expectations by finishing with a total of 201 medals.

Other gold medallists were swimmers Abdul Halim Mohd (men’s 50m LC breaststroke and 100m LC freestyle S8), Mohd Safwan Suhaimi (men’s 50m LC backstroke S9) and Carmen Lim (women’s 50m LC freestyle S8); track cyclists Mohd Khairul Hazwan Wahab and pilot Mohd Khairul Adha Rasol (men’s B tandem sprint), Mohd Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin (men’s individual pursuit C1–C3), and Nur Azlia Syafinaz Mohd Zais with pilot Nurul Suhada Zainal (women’s B individual pursuit).