Tokyo Paralympics: Bonnie sets new Games record en route to first gold for Malaysia

Bonnie Bunyau Gustin clinched a Paralympic Games record as he won Malaysia's first gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics on Saturday.

The 22-year-old powerlifter, competing in the men's 72kg category, already blew his competitors away in his first attempt of 217kg — silver medalist Mahmoud Attia of Egypt only managed 191kg and British Micky Yule did 182kg to take home bronze — before lifting 228kg to seal the Games record.

Lagu Negaraku berkumandang di Bumi Tokyo !! Emas pertama buat kita, Bonnie Bunyau Gustin, menjadi atlet negara yang pertama raih pingat emas dalam kategori lelaki 72 kilogram #sokongmalaysia #ganbattemalaysia pic.twitter.com/7nnxWFQSSs

— ASTRO ARENA (@ASTROARENA) August 28, 2021

The previous record of 227kg belonged to Iraq's Rasool Mohsin, who achieved it in the 2016 edition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Bonnie tried to emulate his own world record of 230kg he set in June by attempting 231kg on his fourth and final try, but he eventually had to settle for the gold medal and the Games record.

He became Malaysia's fourth weightlifter/powerlifter to win a Paralympic medal after Mariappan Perumal (1988 and 1992), Cheok Kon Fatt (1992) and Siow Lee Chan (2008).

But he was the first to win gold in either categories, joining Rio 2016 trio of Ridzuan Puzi, Ziyad Zolkefli and Abdul Latif Romly in bagging the gold medal for the country.

Hadiah utk Malaysia dpd Bonnie Bunyau sempena Hari Kemerdekaan ke-64. #sokongmalaysia #ganbattemalaysia pic.twitter.com/ll4eBrtAfl

— ASTRO ARENA (@ASTROARENA) August 28, 2021