Grace Wong Xiu Mei
KUCHING: Sarawak’s hammer throw darling, Grace Wong Xiu Mei, broke her own Malaysia Games record with a throw of 57.76m to win gold at the Sukma XVIII athletic events at the Sarawak Stadium here today (July 28).
Grace’s record-breaking feat was achieved in the second round after earlier throwing 55.58m. Eyeing for the national record of 58.71m set by Tan Song Hwa in 2011, the blazing afternoon sun might have proven too much for the 16-year-old as the rest of her attempts fell short of the 57m mark.
However, she did more than enough to secure top spot on the podium as her nearest rival, Nurfazira Jalaludin of Selangor, threw 44.77m for silver.
Sarawak also secured bronze through Florence Wong Poh Yee with a record of 40.74m. Grace’s previous record was 55.82m, set in the 2014 Sukma in Perlis.
“There was no pressure this afternoon but I tried to go for the national record after I bettered my personal best of 55.82m. However, it was not to be and I’m happy with the feat. I only have to work harder after this,” she told reporters when met after women’s hammer throw event.
Sarawak won two gold medals in the track and field today, with the second contributed by Quek Lee Yong in the men’s 400m hurdles. The 18-year-old timed 52.35 to finish first, while compatriot Reymar Manuel Tabari Coney came in third with a time of 55.20s.
Quek (in purple) in action during the men’s 400m hurdles.
The men’s 4x100m quartet of Raphael Asun, Asly Chua An Wen, Jonathan Nyepa and Nixson Kennedy also did not disappoint, finishing second behind Melaka who broke the games record with a time of 39.89s.
(From left) Asly, Jonathan, Raphael and Nixsom celebrates their silver winning feat.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s new sprint king Khairul Hafiz Jantan continued his record breaking feat by smashing the 14-year-old 200m SUKMA record in the semifinals, clocking 21.14s in the 200m.
Nazmizan Muhammad from Terengganu had set the SUKMA record of 21.33s at the 2002 SUKMA hosted by Sabah.