Michael Sia (second right) and Jackson Wong posing with assistant chef de mission Dr Ong Kong Swee (centre), MSN coach Gu Yuan and Sarawak coach Thomas Ling Neng Thung after the prize presentation.
KUCHING: Michael Sia Sung Dak has proven to be a worthy successor to Jackie Wong Siew Cheer as Sarawak won the men’s hammer throw gold medal for the fourth consecutive Sukma at the Stadium Tuanku Syed Putra, Perlis Sports Complex yesterday.
The Pahang Sukma silver medallist heaved the hammer to a record distance of 56.98m to grab the gold.
Making it a one-two finish for Sarawak in the event was Jackson Wong Chuen Young whose best throw was 50.05m.
The bronze medallist went to Rizhan Rajmi of Perlis with a distance of 46.55m.
In three consecutive Sukma in Terengganu in 2008, Melaka in 2010 and Pahang in 2012, Jackie Wong won the gold and his Sukma record of 55.23 created two years ago was broken by Michael yesterday.
This achievement is also a timely and memorable one for Michael as it is his final Sukma appearance.
The student of Bukit Jalil Sports School, who hails from Bintangor, felt happy for delivering the state contingent’s first gold medal in athletics.
“I have worked very hard for this and all my efforts have off handsomely today. I would like to thank my coach Gu Yuan, family and all those who have helped me and supported me,” said the thrower who took up hammer throw four years ago.
His next target is to break the national hammer throw record of 62.15m held by Jackie Wong and created at Kuala Lumpur Open last month.
He will continue to train hard and take part in a few competitions in the hope of making it to the national squad for the SEA Games in Singapore in June next year.
Meanwhile, Michael’s coach Gu Yuan was happy with his performance yesterday, saying that he had the potential to go further in the hammer throw.
“I have been training him for about a year and I am happy with his discipline and good attitude towards training. He has improved a lot and I believe he is able to better the national record of 62.15m,” she said.
Gu was the first Chinese athlete to have won the World Cup hammer throw gold medal with a distance of 70.77m in 2002.
The eight-time Asian Games gold medallist’s (1998-2005) best achievement was 72.36m at Asian Games in 2003.
“I am also expecting my other student Casier Renee Lee to do well in the women’s hammer throw at this Games,” said Gu.
Queenie Ting delivered Sarawak’s second gold in athletics yesterday by throwing the discus in the women’s competition to a distance of 42.47m in her sixth attempt.
Second was Connie Choo Kn of Johor (37.83m) and the bronze went to another Sarawakian Anny Tang but representing Perlis as she had been studying in the Institute of Teachers Education (IPG) Perlis for three years, with a distance of 34.41m.
Ting expressed her happiness in achieving her target of winning the gold in this event and took the opportunity to thank her coach Thomas Ling for his coaching and guidance.
Another Sarawak athlete Nur Aisyah Ahmat repeated her achievement in Pahang Sukma by coming in third place in the first event of the day, the women’s 5,000m walk in 26:15.83.
The gold and silver were won by Elena Goh of Kuala Lumpur in 25:59.38 and Ling En of Johor in 26:06.46.
Also in action yesterday was Ahmad Tarmizi Ahmad Sabirin and Jonathan Nyepa who were disqualified after making false starts.
Tarmizi was disqualified in the men’s 100m heat 1 while Jonathan, who clocked the fastest qualifying time of 10.64s, was disqualified in the men’s 100m semi-finals heat 1.