Sarawak paralifter not resting on his laurels
I cannot take a long vacation, I need to continue preparing for the Asian Para Games. Of course, I will face a strong challenge from athletes from China and Iran. Jong Yee Khie, Commonwealth Games silver medallist
SEPANG: Jong Yee Khie, powerlifting silver medallist at the current Commonwealth Games, is now focusing on the 3rd Asian Para Games in Jakarta in October.
The 29-year- old athlete from Batu Kawa, Kuching said he would only take a break for two or three days, before returning to the Kampung Pandan Paralimpic Sport Excel lence Centre to continue training, with a target to win gold in Jakarta.
“I cannot take a long vacation, I need to continue preparing for the Asian Para Games.
“Of course, I will face a strong challenge from athletes from China and Iran,” he told reporters when met upon arriving at klia2 from Gold Coast yesterday together with the powerlifting, swimming and artistic gymnastics squads.
Yee Khie, who improved on his bronze medal at the 2014 Games in Glasgow, li fted 188.7kg to take second place in the men’s heavyweight powerlifting.
He lost to former world champion Abdul Azeez Ibrahim from Nigeria who lifted 191.9kg while India’s Sachin Chaidhary took the bronze with 181.0kg.
Asked on his plan for the RM40,000 reward under the Nat ional Sports Incent ives Scheme (Shakam), Yee Khie said he wanted to open a restaurant in his village in the future.
Meanwhile, national powerlifting head coach Jamil Adam is upbeat on the chances that his charge could win a gold medal in Jakarta as he is currently ranked fourth in the world.
He said the five lifters under him will next compete in the Powerli fting Asian- Oceania Open Championships in Japan in September as a warming- up platform for Jakarta.
“I think our athletes are at their best right now, so we have a great chance in the Asian Games.
“We just have to work on our preparation, with the support of the National Sports Institute,” he said. — Bernama