SOLO, Aug 5 — Malaysia continued with their golden haul from the swimming pool on Day 5 of the 11th Asean Para Games (APG) here yesterday.
The swimming camp shone again at the Jatidiri Swimming Centre in Semarang, winning all five events they participated in and breaking two games records.
Malaysia’s gold hunt began with Ethan Yin Jun Khoo winning the men’s 200m freestyle S14 (intellectual impairment) in a record time before Tokyo Paralympics 2020 swimmer Muhammad Nur Syaiful Zulkafli followed up with a record-breaking win in the men’s 50m freestyle S5 (physical impairment).
Brenda Anellia Larry grabbed the women’s 100m breaststroke SB4 (physical impairment) gold, Fraidden Dawan triumphed in the men’s 200m individual medley SM10 (physical impairment) and Lee Kher Zy (3:42s) took gold in the men’s 200m individual medley SM5 (physical impairment).
Over at Manahan Stadium in track and field competition, Malaysia’s Muhamad Ashraf Mohamad Haisham won the men’s 800m T46 (physical impairment) gold to complete a hattrick, being also the champion in Singapore 2015 and Kuala Lumpur 2017.
Malaysia also won silver in men’s singles wheelchair tennis through Mohd Yusshazwan Yusuf and men’s individual compound archery through G. Deneshan, after both fell in the finals.
In men’s singles SU5 badminton semi-finals at the University of Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) Edutorium, Paralympics champion Cheah Liek Hou defeated arch-rival Dheva Anrimusthi of Indonesia.
Another Malaysian, Mohamad Faris Ahmad Azri, thrashed Suryo Nugroho, also of Indonesia, in the other semi-final to set up an all-Malaysian final today.
All eyes will also be on Muhammad Ikhwan Ramli, as he has qualified for two finals – the men’s singles WH1 (wheelchair) and men’s doubles WH1-WH2 together with Noor Azwan Noorlan.
Malaysians will be in action in the swimming pool in three events tomorrow, with two listed as gold medal prospects, while the compound archers will play in the men’s and mixed team finals.
National powerlifters will feature in three finals today, with two being billed as gold prospects.
So far, the Malaysian contingent has won 24 gold, 14 silver and seven bronze medals.
— Bernama
