Historic fourth straight win at SAM Awards powers up Bonnie for more success

KUALA LUMPUR: Powerlifting champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin has made history with a record fourth straight win in the Para Athlete of the Year category at the 2025 Sports Writers Association of Malaysia (SAM)-100PLUS Awards yesterday.

The two-time Paralympic champion has now become the most successful winner in the Para Athlete category and stands on equal status as track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang, who has also won four times in the Best Athlete category.

Bonnie, who is from Sarawak, was selected as the winner over Paralympic champion shuttler Cheah Liek Hou and long jumper Abdul Latif Romly as well as swimmers Abdul Halim Mohd and Carmen Lim.

Bonnie came in with strong credentials, having picked up a fourth straight triumph in his weight category at the World Championships in Cairo, Egypt, last year.

Bonnie, who won his Paralympic titles in the below 72kg category, sees the win as a perfect boost for his title aspirations in the Commonwealth Games in July and the Asian Para Games in October.

“I hope to make Malaysia proud again although I will be facing stronger competitors, especially from China,” said Bonnie, who won in his weight category at the last Asian Para Games in Hangzhou in 2023.

Bonnie received RM10,000 and a winner’s trophy from Sports Minister Dr Mohd Taufiq Johari.

Track cyclist Sawda Hasbullah won the Young Athlete of the Year award while the Malaysian Hockey Confederation earned the Dynamic Association award.