From left, Ing Biao, Fabian, Johnny, Leong, Xiao Jing and Roland.
SIBU: Johnny Ling Siew Hong is among six Sarawak school athletes included in the Malaysian squad for the 11th Southeast Asia Youth Athletics Championship to be held in Thailand from April 23-24.
The 17-year-old Form Five student of SMK Sacred Heart will be making his international debut after he recently threw 60.81m to break the state schools record in the hammer throw.
Underlying Sarawak’s prowess in throwing events, the other five are also all throwers.
They include Fabian Sia Sung Siong, Wong Xiao Jing (both from SMK Tong Hua), Ngu Ing Biao (SMK Tinggi Sarikei) and Roland Maggie Kunding (SMK Bintulu).
Sia will join Johnny in the hammer event, Xiao Jing and Ing Biao in the discus and Roland in the javelin.
One anchor for the national contingent will be none other than the nation’s No. 1 hammer thrower Grace Wong.
The 16-year-old Sarikei-born, now studying at Bukit Jalil Sports School, won a bronze at the 2015 SEA Games held in Singapore.
Grace, however, will also shoulder the extra burden of competing in the shot put and discus as well at the regional youth championship.
After all, she is the reigning national schools champion in those two other events.
The Sarawak-based athletes are led by manager-coach Leong Shuen Keong.