The Sarawak contingent receive the state colours from Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan at the State Sports School, Kuching on Friday.
Grace Wong
KUCHING: Grace Wong, the reigning SEA Games hammer throw champion, will compete in next week’s MSSM national inter-state track & field championships.
It was at this same meet eight years ago that the throwing prodigy first attracted national attention.
But it will be curtains down come next Friday when the 18-year-old makes her final bow in schools competition.
‘Amazing’ Grace is the anchor behind the 81-strong Sarawak contingent.
The state was overall champions for six consecutive years from 2010-2015.
Sarawak’s unique strength is in the throwing events which contribute more than half of its gold medal tally every year.
However, the state athletes were pipped by Sabah last year and Selangor in 2016, by a solitary gold medal, coincidentally 14 gold to 13 on both occasions.
Both states are expected to challenge Sarawak for the overall title again this year.
Sabah athletes have impressed with their unrivalled depth of talent in recent years.
They were runner-up in 2015 and sixth in 2016 before emerging champion last year.
Judging by their increasing medal tally from 31 in 2015, 41 in 2016 to 48 in 2017, Sabah can be expected to put up a strong defence of their title.
Selangor fell to fourth last year after taking the overall crown in 2016.
Their strengths are likely to come in the middle distance events (six gold last year) and relays (five gold in 2016).
They will also aim to press home the advantage as hosts this year.
Grace won her first MSSM gold on her debut in 2010 when the then 10-year-old Primary Four student won the shot put beating a field of Primary Six athletes.
She has collected a remarkable total of 14 gold medals on her own since.
Entered for the shot put, discus and hammer this time, the SMK Sarikei High Fifth Former will be making an incredible nineth appearance in the annual MSSM Meet next week.
Sarawak officials can only hope that Grace, once the youngest but now the oldest member of the team, can provide the inspiration to carry Sarawak to the overall title once again.
The 60th MSSM Track & Field Championships will be held at the National Sports Complex in Shah Alam, Selangor from April 23 to 27.
The Sarawak contingent with 29 officials is led by Dr Les Met and assisted by Tan Kim Hock.