Dejected: Powerlifter Jong Yee Khie had to be helped up after failing to lift 223kg in his third attempt in the men’s 107kg category. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Powerlifter Jong Yee Khie could not repeat his silver medal winning feat in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics when he finished seventh in the men’s 107kg category at the Paris Games.
And the Malaysian contingent ended their campaign with a medal haul of 2-2-1 in Paris without meeting their four-gold medal target.
Yee Khie, who was the last Malaysian in action in Paris, managed to lift 208kg in his second attempt at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena yesterday but it was not enough to win a medal.
The Sarawakian fell behind the medal spots when he failed in his third and final attempt to lift 223kg.
Iran’s Aliakbar Gharibhashi set a new world record when he lifted 252kg to win gold.
Gharibhashi shattered the previous record of 245kg set by Mongolia’s Sodnompiljee Enkhbayar when he captured the title in Tokyo.
Enkhbayar had to settle for silver this time when he lifted 248kg while Mexico’s Jose de Jesus Castillo won bronze after lifting 222kg.
Yee Khie said a chest injury that has been plaguing him since July put paid to his chances of winning a medal.
He has vowed to win a medal again in the 2028 edition in Los Angeles.
“I am indeed disappointed not to get a medal. I feel quite disheartened,” said Yee Khie.
“Maybe this is not the time, but I will continue the fight at the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.”
Overall, it was still a successful outing for the powerlifting team after Bonnie Bunyau Gustin defended his gold in the men’s 72kg.
Malaysia fell short of the target of four golds after settling with only two, with the first won by shuttler Cheah Liek Hou, who also defended his title in the men’s singles SU5 (upper body impairment).
There were also two silvers from Ziyad Zolkefli in the men’s shot putt F20 (intellectual disability) and Abdul Latif Romly in the men’s long jump T20 (learning disability) while Eddy Bernard secured a bronze in the men’s 100m T44 (physical impairment).
Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said that the overall performance of the athletes was satisfactory, with some even improving their personal bests and coming close to winning gold for the country although the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) had set a four-gold medal target.
“Like Latif, who initially held the first place but was overtaken at the last moment by the gold medallist,” said Hannah as reported by Bernama
“We know he had an injury, but he still did his best and recorded his season’s best.”
Hannah also said that a post-event evaluation of the Malaysian contingent’s performance at the Paralympics would be conducted after the conclusion of the Le Tour de Langkawi from Sept 29-Oct 6.
