Evergreen Abu Bakar proud to be flag bearer at Para Games

KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran bowler Abu Bakar Nyat (pic) is the oldest para-athlete in the Malaysian contingent for the Asian Para Games and he has always delivered.

And it was only fitting that the 51-year-old chief clerk of the Bertam Hulu Secondary School in Melaka was named as the flag bearer for the Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, from Oct 6-13.

It is his third Games and he will compete in the men’s TPB9 category (for standing bowlers with lower limb disability) in the singles, doubles and trios events.

Abu Bakar, who has represented Malaysia since 2009, said it was a great honour to carry the Jalur Gemilang at the Games.

“Only a few lucky athletes get to lead their country in a major multi-sport Games and I’m honoured to be one of them,” said Abu Bakar, whose right leg is longer than his left.

He made a memorable outing in his first Asian Para Games in Guangzhou in 2010 by winning gold in the men’s doubles with Wong Kee Soon. He also teamed up with Kee Soon for a bronze at the last edition in 2014 Incheon.

“My efforts in winning medals has been recognised. This is a good boost ahead of my third Games but this is definitely not my last as I want to represent the country in years to come,” he said.

Abu Bakar, who only took up bowling at the age of 33, said he has set his sights on making a clean sweep by winning all his three events in Jakarta.

“I’m in good form as I did well to win golds in the World Para Bowling Tour Championships in Singapore and Hong Kong this year. I competed against some of the top bowlers in the world,” he said.

“We also have good and reliable bowlers to put up a strong challenge in the Games,” said Abu Bakar, who won gold in the singles and silvers in the doubles and All-events in the first World Tour in Singapore in January.

In the second World Tour in Hong Kong in March, Abu Bakar also swept the gold in the singles and bronzes in doubles and All-Events respectively.

Abu Bakar also has delivered gold in every Asean Para Games he featured in since 2009 in Korat, Thailand – making him one of the most reliable bowlers in the team. The others are Kee Soon, Mohd Azrin Rahim and Nadiah Sya.