KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 — National para powerlifting ace Bonnie Bunyau Gustin delivered Malaysia’s second gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games after winning the men’s up to 72 kilogramme (kg) final at the Nagoya City Trade & Industry Centre today.
Bonnie successfully defended the 72kg title he won at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games.
The 27-year-old Serian-born lifter opened with 216kg, improved to 225kg on his second attempt, then failed to clear 231kg in his final effort, leaving 225kg as his best lift.
China’s Zhang Pingkang took silver with a best lift of 212kg, while Iran’s Mohsen Bakhtiar claimed bronze with 208kg.
Bonnie, a two-time Paralympic champion, entered the final as the holder of the world record at 232kg, the Asian record at 231kg and the Games record at 230kg.
The victory also helped ease his disappointment after he failed to defend his Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow last July, where he settled for bronze in the men’s lightweight.
Malaysia’s first gold at the Games came yesterday through para track cyclist Zuhairie Ahmad Tarmizi, who won the men’s 1,000m C4-C5 time trial. — Bernama
