KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah have congratulated national powerlifting athlete Bonnie Bunyau Gustin, who won Malaysia’s first gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games yesterday.
Their Majesties also expressed their joy and pride over the Sarawak-born para athlete’s feat that has made the nation proud.
“Bonnie’s achievement is very meaningful for the Malaysian contingent and an inspiration to fellow athletes in their hunt for more medals in the biggest sporting event,” they said in a statement posted on Istana Negara’s Facebook page.
According to Their Majesties, Bonnie’s outstanding achievement has once again proven that Malaysia is capable of producing athletes and individuals of quality, calibre and international standards.
The royal couple expressed hope that Bonnie’s success and fighting spirit would also be a source of inspiration to all Malaysians, especially para athletes, to work hard and strive for success in their fields.
“Their Majesties wish Bonnie all the best and pray that he will achieve continued success and once again make history and a name for himself in upcoming competitions,” said the statement.
Bonnie, 22, grabbed the gold medal by lifting 228kg, defeating Egypt’s Mahmoud Attia (191kg) and Britain’s Micky Yule (182kg) in the men’s 72kg powerlifting event.
More remarkably, he also broke the Paralympic Games record of 227kg held by Iraqi Rasool Mohsin set in Rio 2016, by lifting 228kg in his third attempt on the first day of the event yesterday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob also congratulated and thanked Bonnie for contributing the first gold medal for the Malaysian Family.
He said that Bonnie’s success was a source of national pride when the national anthem, Negaraku, was played and the Jalur Gemilang was raised in Tokyo.
“Malaysia’s first gold! Thank you Bonnie Bunyau Gustin for presenting the Malaysian Family with the gold medal in men’s powerlifting,” he said in a Facebook post.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong also congratulated Bonnie for delivering Malaysia’s first gold at the Games.
“Congratulations Bonnie Bunyau Gustin for your success in obtaining the first gold medal for Malaysia,” he said on his Facebook page.
