NATIONAL powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin defied the odds to bag a second gold medal at the World Para Powerlifting Championship in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan on Monday.
The 19-year-old Sarawakian, who clinched the boys’ below 65kg gold on Friday, stunned a pool of top athletes once again, this time in the men’s up to 65kg.
The junior world record holder was surprised as he did not expect to beat some of the current world’s best.
Bonnie first lifted 185kg before moving on to 197kg and 207kg in his second and third attempts to score his maiden senior title at Astana Congress Centre.
Algeria’s Hocine Bettir and Iran’s Amir Jafari Arangeh settled for second and third after lifting 194kg and 193kg respectively.
Three-time Paralympic champion Liu Lei of China came in fourth after managing 190kg.
The gold meant that Bonnie has qualified for next year’s Tokyo Paralympics.
“This is my biggest win ever. Despite competing against the best in this event, I managed to win the title.
“It was all about self-belief during the competition. I feel my hard work has paid off,” Bonnie told https://www.paralympic.org/powerlifting.