KUCHING: After one week of intense, emotional and energy-sapping competition, the curtain came down on the 2024 Malaysia Para Games (Para SUKMA) last night, with athletes bidding farewell, or as the locals say "Mupok Lok", to the 21st edition of the biennial Games.
The cauldron, lit by national powerlifting ace Bonnie Bunyau Gustin, was put out during a glittering closing ceremony at the Unity Stadium.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh was given the honour of extinguishing the cauldron in the presence of athletes and officials from the 15 contingents.
This year's edition saw 327 gold medals up for grabs from the 10 sports contested, with one gold in athletics not given out because the women's long jump T12 event only had one participant.
Also present at the closing ceremony was Sarawak Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
The other highlight of the closing ceremony was the crowning of Sabah swimmer Shahafiq Abdullah as the Best Male Athlete and Pahang recurve archer Loh Chi Hui as the Best Female Athlete of Para SUKMA 2024.
Shahafiq bagged six medals (four golds, one silver and one bronze) and set four national records while Chi Hui broke one national mark en route to winning four gold medals.
Hannah presented them each with RM2,000 cash and a trophy.
Meanwhile, Sarawak regained their status as overall champions after raking in 82 golds, 53 silvers and 74 bronzes.
Sabah, who came as defending champions, left as runners-up with a 62-42-32 medal haul, followed by Johor (33-35-29) in third place.
Earlier, the closing ceremony began with a performance by Kumpulan Sedidik, comprising 40 young dancers who performed the sign language when the national anthem Negaraku and Sarawak state anthem Ibu Pertiwiku were sung.
This was followed by a poetry recital by two poets on the theme of 'Sang Juara', to the musical accompaniment of flute, drum and guitar and joined in by 10 dancers from around Kuching.
The ceremony continued with the parade of the 15 state contingents, led by the Jalur Gemilang contingent led by Staff Sergeant Azwan Zulkifli from the 13th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment under the auspices of the Army's East Field Command, the First Division of the Malaysian Infantry and the Third Brigade of the Malaysian Infantry.
The SUKMA flag was then lowered and handed over by Fatimah to Azura Sarbin, the representative of the Menteri Besar of Selangor.
Selangor will host the 2026 edition.– BERNAMA