Bonnie Bunyau Gustin to defend Asian Para Games 72kg powerlifting gold in Aichi-Nagoya after Glasgow bronze

Two-time Paralympic champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin goes into the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games as the defending champion in the men's 72kg powerlifting. His coach, Mohamad Shahibullah Ambi, told Utusan Malaysia on Thursday, 15 October that Bonnie is in his best condition and confident. He won this title at the last Asian Para Games, held in Hangzhou in October 2023. The Games in Japan run from 18 to 24 October.

A careful build-up after Glasgow

Malaysia's coaching staff have planned this campaign carefully. At the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in July, Bonnie took bronze in the men's lightweight event with a best lift of 220kg, after missing his final attempt at 230kg. He arrived in Glasgow as defending Commonwealth champion.

Before the Commonwealth Games, Bonnie had a slight tear in his left chest earlier in the year and did his rehabilitation at the National Sports Institute. After the Glasgow event, Shahibullah said cutting weight during competition week may have left him short of energy.

According to Utusan, the coach was not happy with the third-attempt approach in Glasgow and has been more cautious since. Training has been kept from becoming too heavy because of Bonnie's injury history. Shahibullah also told the paper that results on the platform can still depend on luck.

Bonnie's record

Bonnie is one of the most successful athletes in Malaysian Paralympic sport. He won the men's up to 72kg gold at Tokyo 2020 and defended it at Paris 2024, where the International Paralympic Committee says he set a world record. At the Paris Games he lifted despite a sore left shoulder.

His Asian Para Games gold in Hangzhou means he arrives in Japan as the man to beat in his category in Asia. The Commonwealth result in Glasgow showed he is beatable, but his coach believes he has recovered fully from the problems of the summer.

Malaysia's wider Asian Para Games campaign

Bonnie is one of the leading names in the Malaysian contingent for the fifth Asian Para Games, and a successful title defence would give the team an important gold. He is also one of the country's best-known para athletes, so a strong result in Japan would set the tone for the rest of the squad.

The Games come shortly after the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where Malaysia's able-bodied athletes won nine golds. That has raised hopes for a strong showing from the para team in Japan.

The competition schedule for each sport is published by the organisers, and Malaysian fans can follow live results through the official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games website.

Key takeaways

• Bonnie Bunyau Gustin is defending the men's 72kg powerlifting title he won at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games in 2023.
• The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games run from 18 to 24 October.
• He took bronze at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games with 220kg after a chest tear earlier in the year.
• Coach Mohamad Shahibullah Ambi says Bonnie is in his best condition and that training load has been managed carefully.
• Bonnie is a two-time Paralympic champion, winning at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

FAQ

When are the 2026 Asian Para Games? The fifth Asian Para Games take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 18 to 24 October 2026.

What is Bonnie Bunyau Gustin's event? He competes in men's para powerlifting, up to 72kg. He won this event at Hangzhou and at the last two Paralympic Games.

How did Bonnie do at the 2026 Commonwealth Games? He won bronze in Glasgow with a best lift of 220kg after missing 230kg on his final attempt.

Sources: Utusan Malaysia, Malay Mail, International Paralympic Committee, New Straits Times