PERFECT PARTING GIFT: Jackie competes in the hammer throw at Stadium Darul Makmur in Pahang. — Photos by Chimon Upon
KUANTAN: The men’s hammer throw gold was a fitting parting gift for defending champion Jackie Wong Siew Cheer who led a Sarawak to a 1-2 finish in the field event at Stadium Darul Makmur yesterday.
Jackie, who is now doing his pre-university studies at Bukit Jalil Sports School in Kuala Lumpur, also broke his own record of 55.14m set in Melaka Sukma in 2010 by registering a new mark of 55.25m to win the gold with his second throw.
His teammate Michael Sia Sung Dak took the silver with a throw of 47.58m while Perak’s Ng Chee Chew finished third with 45.39m in the eight-participant field.
But the 20-year-old Jackie was not really satisfied with the record throw as he failed in his second attempt to break the national record of 58.52m set by fellow Sarawakian Wong Tee Kui at the Sea Games in Singapore in 1993.
“Although I am happy to be able to defend my gold and better my own record, I am still not really satisfied with today’s result which is a few centimetres more because I was targeting to break the national record,” Jackie told the reporters.
It was also way outside the personal best of 58.30m he recorded at the Malaysian Grand Prix last year and the 55.27m he did at the Selangor Open earlier this year.
But for Jackie, it is a sort of achievement for him as he completed a hat-trick of wins in Sukma 2008, 2010 and 2012.
“I would like to extend my profound thanks to my family, my brothers and sisters who prayed for me today and to my former coach Thomas Ling and present coach from Slovakia Frank Petrovic and all those who have supported me,” said Jackie.
“I’m also glad to be able to contribute a gold to the Sarawak contingent,” he added.
Jackie will be taking a few months’ rest to nurse his back injury and will be competing in the Thailand Open in early September.
Michael, who is a form five student at SMK Tung Hua in Bintangor, Sarikei said he was happy to finish second in the hammer throw.
“I am happy with the result but this is certainly not my best throw,” said 18-year-old Michael who had registered 49m during the training stint at Bukit Jalil prior to Sukma XV.
The medals were presented by Minister of Social Development Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom who was accompanied the permanent secretary to the ministry Affandi Keli and Assistant Minister of Public Utilities cum Assistant Minister of Social Development (Youth Development), Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi and assistant chef de mission Snowdan Lawan.
Mawan said later that he was very happy with the good result achieved by Jackie and Michael and he had high hopes for the state contingent to do well in Pahang.
“The spirit of our athletes is high and their (Jackie and Michael) performance is a morale booster to the rest of our athletes.
“You won’t be surprised that they will break more records in the remaining days of Sukma XV,” he said.
Mawan was also pleased to note that the efforts put into the state’s sports development programme had paid dividends and Sarawak had produced many potential athletes for the national team and represent the country at international competitions.