JOHOR BARU: Para-athlete Chew Wei Lun, (pic) who bagged Malaysia’s first-ever medal in boccia at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020, has received congratulations from the Johor royal family and the state government.

       In a post on the Royal Johor Facebook page, the royal family congratulated the Johor Baru native, a former student at Johor Cerebral Palsy.

       Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the state government would be rewarding Chew for his silver medal achievement.

       Expressing his well wishes and appreciation to the athlete, he said although Chew was not listed as a medal contender, the 26-year-old still put on a mighty performance in his Paralympics debut to give the country another medal.

       The other two medal winners in Tokyo are Sarawakian powerlifters Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (gold) and Jong Yee Khie (silver).

       Speaking to the media after presenting 8,000 laptops to the state Education Department here yesterday, Hasni said he would announce a reward for the pride of Johor at the state assembly meeting when it resumes on Monday.

       On Wednesday, Chew made history as the first Malaysian to win a Paralympics boccia medal, and on his very first try, too.

       He also helped boccia become only the fifth sport after weightlifting, athletics, powerlifting and archery to contribute a medal to the national contingent at the Paralympic Games.

       Previously, Chew won silver at the Hong Kong Open in 2019 and at the 2015 Asean Para Games in Singapore.