HANGZHOU: National powerlifting champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (gambar) dedicated the gold medal in the men’s 72 kg event won at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Para Games (APG) here today to his brother.
The 24-year-old strongman said the presence of his brother Bryan Junency Gustin, 26, who will compete in the 80 kg event, was a motivational factor for him to finally win his first personal gold medal at the Games, as well as ensuring that the national anthem of ‘Negaraku’ could reverberate in the hall.
Bonnie, a dwarf-sized powerlifter, standing at only 132 centimetres (4 feet 4 inches) from Serian, Sarawak, made his second appearance at the APG, and bagged the gold medal when he lifted 230 kg which is also a new Games Record at the Xiaoshan Gymnasium here.
The record was previously held by Iranian powerlifter Roohallah Rostami with a 229 kg lift.
“Bryan’s presence helped me in winning this gold medal. I hope this gold will inspire him to win a medal for his events later,” Bonnie told Bernama.
“In any case, I am very happy with today’s success because I also broke the APG record.”
The silver medal went to home challenger Hu Peng with a lift of 208 kg while the bronze was won by Uzbekistan’s Jamilov Bekzod with 204 kg.
Bonnie’s success today brings Malaysia’s gold medal tally to five, after swimming and track cycling each contributed one gold while athletics contributed two. –Bernama
