SELANGOR: Sarawak’s para powerlifters are targeting four gold medals at the Para SUKMA Selangor 2026, with the squad confident of mounting a strong challenge when competition begins this Saturday (Sept 5).
Team manager Rusmalina Mat Darus said the squad is targeting four gold, three silver and three bronze medals.
The four gold-medal targets are Bryan Junency John in the men’s 88kg category, Johannes Gabriel Chew (men’s 65kg), Bibiana Ahmad (women’s lightweight, 61kg and below) and Sona Agon (women’s heavyweight, above 61kg).
“For Para SUKMA this time, only the best lift will be contested. There is no total lift category as in the previous Para SUKMA in Sarawak.
“So, our target is four gold, three silver and three bronze medals,” she told reporters at the Malaysia Paralympic Sports Excellence Centre today (Sept 2).
The Sarawak squad comprises 13 lifters, nine men and four women will compete in the event this Saturday (Sept 5).
Rusmalina said newcomer Anson Tiong Cheong Huat, who will compete in the men’s 49kg category, is also showing promising progress and could challenge for gold despite initially being targeted for silver.
“Anson is new to the squad. We are targeting silver for him, but there is a possibility that he could win gold based on his recent development.
“We saw his progress during the recent national competition, and hopefully he can continue improving here,” she said.
With the competition focused solely on the best lift, Rusmalina said the squad would look to execute its attempts carefully while capitalising on the athletes’ current form.
