NAYPYITAW, Jan 20 — The Malaysian contingent finally met the 50 gold medals target at the 7th Asean Para Games which closed today.
The 50th gold medal was won by Shamli Waidi in the F36 men’s javelin event (Cerebral Palsy) with a distance of 37.21 metres.
Shamli erased the Asean Para Games record of 36.00 metres set by fellow Malaysian, Mohd Nizam Niam Abdullah in Nakhonratchasima, Thailand in 2008.
The Asean Para Games organiser yesterday decided to merge the F36 and F37 javelin events.
Paralympic Branch Director of National Sports Council, Mohd Safrusahar Yusuf said the decision followed a review of all events at a meeting attended by heads of contingents.
The Malaysian contingent won 50 gold, 49 silver and 41 bronze medals to finish third.
The athletics squad contributed 37 gold medals, 26 silver and 7 bronze medals.
Indonesia emerged champion with 99 gold, 69 silver and 49 bronze medals while Thailand was second with 96 gold, 82 silver and 70 bronze medals.
Host Myanmar finished in fifth place with 34 gold, 26 silver and 36 bronze medals.
Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin praised the Malaysian contingent for meeting the 50 gold medals target.
“Jalur Gemilang flag bearer Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli delivered two gold medals as promised. Paralympic athletes have never put us down.
“Previously, we gave them one third the amount given to normal athletes but now they get the same amount,” he told reporters after the contract signing between go-kart racer Adam Haikal Mazrul Haizad and ART Grand Prix today. — Bernama
