Tokyo 2020 Paralympics: National Heroes Bonnie and Yee Khie arrive safely home
Bernama
Aug 31, 2021
The two powerlifters landed safely at KLIA at about 5.20 pm. - Pictures/ Named
SEPANG: The two Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games national heroes, Bonnie Bunyau Gustin and Jong Yee Kahie were given a modest but warm welcome upon arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here today.
The two powerlifters, who departed from Narita International Airport, Japan at 10.20am this morning on Malaysia Airlines flight MH9117, landed safely at KLIA at about 5.20pm with national coach Jamil Adam.
Upon exiting the arrival hall, after completing the customs, immigration and COVID-19 test, they were greeted with a shout of 'Demi Malaysia' by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, his deputy Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker, Director General of the National Sports Council ( MSN) Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail and the Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPM).
The two medalists then spent a few minutes for a brief press conference, before boarding a bus to the hotel to undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days.
The national powerlifting camp put on a proud performance, when Bonnie, who competed in the men's 72kg category, won her first gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics with a weight of 228 kg, which is also a new Paralympic record, last Saturday.
Yee Khie, on the other hand, won silver in the men's 107kg category yesterday, when he managed to do the 237kg weightlifting at the Tokyo International Forum.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Faizal, who was met by reporters afterwards, hoped that the success of the two bodies would ignite the spirit of the national contingent to achieve more success at the games.
"Grateful to be able to welcome the return of Bonnie and Yee Khie, they all arrived safely and they were quite enthusiastic to set foot on Malaysian soil on the 64th National Day. They proved that Malaysians are also able to stand tall on the world stage.
"We see another of our athletes in the sport of boccia, Chew Wei Lun has made it to the semi -finals, but will meet world number one athlete, David Smith of Great Britain in the final tomorrow. I am confident in his abilities," he said.
Earlier, Wei Lun advanced to the final after beating world number 18 Andre Ramos of Portugal, 9-5, in the semi-finals of the BC1 mixed individual event (physical disability), thus making history as Malaysia's first bocce athlete to win a medal in Paralympics.
- BERNAMA
BONNIE'S Golden Moment.
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