Seoul ’88: Pingat Sukan Paralimpik Pertama Malaysia
Pada tahun 1988, Malaysia membawa pulang pingat Sukan Paralimpik pertama negara. Edisi ini menandakan kali kedua Malaysia menyertai Sukan Paralimpik dan telah menghantar kontinjen terbesar mereka pada ketika itu dengan 17 atlet, berbanding penampilan mereka di Sukan Paralimpik Heidelberg 1972, di mana empat atlet mengambil bahagian.
Daripada kontinjen Malaysia, tujuh atlet paralimpik menyertai acara perlumbaan kerusi roda dan angkat berat (kecacatan fizikal). Selebihnya, para atlet yang mempunyai kecacatan penglihatan bertanding dalam acara renang dan trek & padang termasuk cakera, lontar peluru, lompat jauh, lompat kijang, rejam lembing, serta acara 100m, 400m dan 800m.
Mewakili Malaysia dalam acara angkat berat, Mariappan Perumal merupakan pemenang pingat kebangsaan yang pertama setelah merangkul gangsa dalam kategori 57kg lelaki. Beliau telah memenangi pingat gangsa sekali lagi pada Sukan Paralimpik Barcelona 1992 dalam kategori 60kg. Sukan Paralimpik Barcelona 1992 juga menyaksikan Malaysia memenangi pingat perak pertama mereka melalui Cheok Kon Fatt dalam acara angkat berat 52kg lelaki.
Dengan permulaan Sukan Paralimpik Paris 2024 pada hari ini, Legasi Lagenda berharap segala pencapaian dan pengorbanan atlet para yang telah mengharumkan nama Malaysia sentiasa diingati dan dijadikan inspirasi kepada generasi muda dan akan datang. Daripada penampilan sulung Malaysia dengan jumlah empat atlet, kini Malaysia membawa kontinjen yang paling besar iaitu seramai 30 daripada lapan jenis sukan. Kami ucapkan selamat maju jaya!
Kredit foto asal: Mariappan Perumal
//
Seoul ’88: Malaysia’s First Paralympic Games Medal
In 1988, Malaysia brought home their first Paralympic Games medal. Marking their second year of participation, Malaysia sent their largest contingent yet of 17 athletes, compared to their previous appearance at the 1972 Heidelberg Paralympic Games, where there were four competitors.
From Malaysia’s contingent, seven para athletes took part in wheelchair races and weightlifting (physical impairment). Meanwhile, the remaining participants, who were visually impaired, competed in swimming and track & field events including discus, shot-put, long jump, triple jump, javelin, 100m, 400m and 800m events.
Representing Malaysia in weightlifting, Mariappan Perumal became the country’s first Paralympic medalist after clinching the bronze medal in the Men’s 57 kg category. He went on to win the bronze medal once more at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympic Games in the 60kg category. The Barcelona Games also saw Malaysia winning their first silver medal through Cheok Kon Fatt in Men’s 52 kg weightlifting.
As the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games begins today, Legasi Lagenda hopes that the sacrifices and successes of our para athletes who have made the nation proud will never be forgotten and continue to inspire generations to come. From Malaysia’s debut of four para athletes to now our biggest contingent that is 30 strong across eight sports, we wish all Malaysian para athletes the very best!
Original photo credit: Mariappan Perumal
