PARIS, Sept 6 – National powerlifting champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin, who will compete in the men’s up to 72kg category at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena, is Malaysia’s next gold medal hope at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The national contingent also hopes that the venue gives them another dose of good fortune after para badminton ace Cheah Liek Hou secured Malaysia’s first gold medal there, by defeating Indonesia’s Suryo Nugroho 21-13, 21-15 in the men’s singles SU5 (physical impairment) event on Monday.
On paper, the diminutive lifter from Sarawak has a strong chance of defending the gold medal he won at his Paralympic debut in the 2020 edition in Tokyo.
As the world record holder with a lift of 231 kilogrammes (kg) and a Paralympic record of 228kg, the 25-year-old athlete is the top favourite at Paris 2024 and defend his title.
Moreover, the gap between Bonnie’s best lift and that of his closest rival, Donato Telesca from Italy, who has a best lift of 216kg, is significant.
