‘Only’ two gold medals show why Paralympic Council Malaysia is right to demand funding, says chief
With Budget 2025 around the corner, Paralympic Council Malaysia hopes the government will look at its performance in the recently-concluded Paralympic Games in Paris, France, and approve its plea for funding.
The Malaysian contingent only won two gold medals, two silvers, and a bronze, its worst outing in eight years, finishing 42nd in the medal tally.
In Rio de Janeiro, Malaysia won three gold medals and one bronze, finishing 35th, while five years later, in Tokyo, the country ranked 39th overall despite winning three gold and two silver medals.
In Budget 2024, sports development for persons with disabilities only received RM12 million for its elite athletes.
The government, however, allocated RM72 million to strengthen the Podium Programme for able-bodied athletes, of which RM20 million was for the Road to Gold programme aimed at securing a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
Malaysia, however, only won two bronze medals via badminton players Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (men’s doubles) and Lee Zii Jia (men’s singles).
“I have said for the longest time that we need money to unearth more para-athletes,” said Paralympic Council Malaysia president, Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin.
“We can’t depend on the same athletes for Los Angeles 2028. We must start grooming new faces from now on. We need about RM50 million for our development programmes, as we have 25 associations under us.
“Despite the lack of funding, we continue to deliver gold medals at the Paralympics, even if it was only two in Paris.”
The 25 associations are archery, athletics, badminton, blind football, blind sports, boccia, canoeing, carrom, chess, cycling, fencing, goalball, lawn bowls, rugby, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tenpin bowling, Teqball, volleyball, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair tennis.
Megat Shahriman said the council has big plans for grassroots development as it knows it can’t keep on depending on the same athletes. However, his plea for funding to the last three prime ministers, including Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has been unsuccessful.
Both gold medals in Paris came from repeat winners – Cheah Liek Hou (badminton SU5 impairment of the upper limbs category), and powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (main image).
Datuk Abdul Latif Romly (men’s T20 intellectual impairment long jump) and Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli (F20 intellectual impairment shot put), who won silver in Paris, are also multiple winners, with the former a two-time gold medallist, and Ziyad, a champion in Rio, eight years ago.
The lone bronze came from Eddy Bernard in the men’s 100m T44 (physical impairment).
The council had targeted four gold medals in Paris but fell short. Its next mission is next year’s Asean Para Games in Thailand and the Asian Para Games in Japan in 2026.
The council’s push for increased funding aims to provide the nation’s athletes with the best training and support systems, resulting in improved performances for the Asean, and Asian Para Games, and the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
“Football recently received another RM15 million from the government despite failing to qualify for the World Cup and Olympics,” said Megat Shahriman.
“The government must be fair with its funding, as sports like weightlifting, sailing, and archery have consistently qualified for the Olympics with minimal government funds.
“It is the same with us. We are running our programmes with our own funds. If we receive some help from the government, it helps us get results and eventually more gold medals at the Paralympics.”
