KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 – Another Sarawakian has made Malaysia proud at the Tokyo Paralympics Games when powerlifter Jong Yee Khie clinched the silver medal in the men’s 107kg category at the Tokyo International Forum on Monday.
The silver comes in the wake of the gold medal won by another Sarawakian Bonnie Bunyau Gustin in the men’s Under-72kg category on Saturday with a new Paralympics record of 228kg.
Jee Khie, who had his right leg amputated after a motorcycle accident in Kuching in 2005, competed in the Rio Paralympics in 2016 in the 97k category but failed to get on the podium. His right leg had to be amputated above the knee.
It was a story of guts and determination for Yee Khie. He took the silver with a lift of 237kg in his second attempt.It was a remarkable comeback from the Malaysian after he flopped in his first attempt to lift 230kg.
Yee Khie tried to lift 245kg in his third and final attempts but failed. Still, the silver medal is another gift to Malaysians who celebrate Malaysia’s 64th Merdeka (independence) celebrations tomorrow (Aug 31).
He qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics after winning the silver medal at the Dubai leg of the World Championships in June this year.
The gold medal, as expected, was won by favourite Sadnompiljee Enkhbayar of Mongolia with a new Paralympics record of 245kg – smashing the old record which stood at 238kg and held by Parlos Mamalos of Greece set in Rio five years ago.
The Mongolian also holds the world record of 247kg set in Nur-Sultan, the capital city of Kazakhstan in July 2019.
Iran’s Saman Razi took the bronze at the Tokyo Paralympics with a lift of 231kg.
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