KUALA LUMPUR – Powerlifter Jong Yee Khie, who won the silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, has withdrawn from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games scheduled from July 28 to August 8.
This was confirmed by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) today, saying that Yee Khie had to pull out of the national contingent after suffering an injury during a training session recently.
The OCM, in a statement, said the 33-year-old had confirmed the withdrawal after his injuries were evaluated by the National Sports Institute.
“With this development, the Malaysian contingent to Birmingham 2022 now stands at 105 members. The OCM hopes and prays that Yee Khie will have a full and speedy recovery and will be back in action soon,” the statement read.
Yee Khie’s absence will certainly hamper Malaysia’s gold medal target in Birmingham, especially after his silver medal feat in the 170kg category in Tokyo and at the 11th Fazza Dubai 2021 Para Powerlifting World Cup.
He also won silver medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, Australia and bronze in the 2014 edition in Glasgow, Scotland, as well as gold at the 2015 ASEAN Para Games Singapore and 2017 Kuala Lumpur.
Yee Khie becomes the country’s third athlete to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games after badminton champion Lee Zii Jia, who wants to focus on the World Championships, and squash player S. Sivasangari who was involved in a road accident late last month.
The OCM had previously set a target of seven golds equaling the achievement on the Gold Coast, but that will now be reviewed following the absence of the three athletes. – Bernama, July 15, 2022
