Sabahan Jonathan contributes silver in Para Games
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah para athlete Jonathan Wong Kar Gee delivered a silver medal for Malaysia in the 3rd Asian Para Games currently ongoing in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Visually impaired Jonathan achieved the feat in the Men’s Long Jump T12 with his effort of 7.05m at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium yesterday.
Saliev Doniyor of Uzbekistan won the gold in a record jump of 7.22m while Khosravani Amir of Iran settled for bronze with 7.01m.
Sabah Sports Council (SSC) director Terrance Pudin said Jonathan, who has a personal best of 7.22m, was a gold prospect in the Asian Para Games but a silver on his debut was no mean feat.
“Congratulation to Jonathan for winning a silver...we are very happy for him,” said Terrance during the handing over of the State Flag to the Malaysia Deaf Games (Sopma)-bound Sabah contingent yesterday.
“In fact, hopes were high for Jonathan to win the gold but the Asian Para Games, despite being contested among Asian countries, is a tough competition with world class para athletes.
“It was proven after several world records were shattered in the Asian Para Games, including from our national para athletes.
“For Jonathan, he is being earmarked for the Paralympics 2020 in Tokyo along with fellow state para athletic athletes Doriah Paulus and Eddy Bernard.
“Hopefully, they will qualify for the Paralympics,” he added.
Jonathan’s coach, Yee Kwok Wai, was pleased with the performance.
“(I’m) happy because (his effort) is not far from his personal best. With a result like this in his first big championship...it’s a good try,” Yee texted from Indonesia yesterday.
Meanwhile, former BWF ParaBadminton world champion Didin Taresoh has qualified for the Men’s Singles SS6 final.
Didin defeated Nagar Khrisna of India 21-16, 22-20 and will meet Hong Kong’s Chu Man Kai for the gold after the latter edged countryman Wong Chun Yim 2119, 21-23, 21-17.
For the record, nine Sabah para athletes are representing the country in the Asian Para Games, which will conclude on October 13.
The rest include Doriah, Eddy, Adderin Majurin, Jacklon Ganding, Ramli Rahim, Lidwina Isidore and Haswadi Moliadi.