THAILAND – Sarawak’s para athletes shone brightly at the 13th ASEAN Para Games, bringing home 38 medals for Malaysia – 13 gold, 15 silver and 10 bronze – accounting for nearly one-fifth of the national contingent’s total haul.
Malaysia ended the biennial games with 201 medals (64 gold, 64 silver, 73 bronze), with Sarawak athletes contributing 18.9 percent, highlighting the state’s pivotal role in Malaysia’s success in regional para sports.
The medals came from eight sports: athletics, swimming, tenpin bowling, powerlifting, table tennis, archery, boccia, and wheelchair ball. Para swimming led the way with three gold, 10 silver and five bronze medals, followed closely by athletics. Tenpin bowling and powerlifting each added three golds.
Several athletes achieved historic milestones. Colorine Sijang won gold in the F40 and F41 Women’s Discus Throw, while Noshazwani Maisara Marzuki took gold in the F37 Women’s Javelin Throw, both in their Games debut.
Bibiana Ahmad became the first Sarawakian female gold medallist in powerlifting, winning the 67kg category. In swimming, Rusdianto Rusmadi claimed two individual golds, and Muhd Nur Syyaiful Zulkafli won gold in the men’s 50m breaststroke. National weightlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin successfully defended his men’s 80kg title.
Sarawak’s Minister of Women, Children and Community Wellbeing, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, who attended the closing ceremony in Nakhon Ratchasima, praised the athletes for their discipline, determination and record-breaking performances.
She described the 38-medal haul as a proud achievement for both Sarawak and Malaysia, and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to developing para sports and supporting athlete welfare as part of long-term human capital development.
This achievement reflects the resilience and competitiveness of Sarawak’s athletes, while reinforcing Malaysia’s reputation as a rising force in ASEAN para sports.
