RARE TALENT: Grace Wong makes a throw during a training session at the Sarikei Stadium. — Photo by Davidson Kho
Wong create history to become the first primary school pupil to break the 10m mark in Sarikei
KUCHING: All eyes will be on talented shot-putter Grace Wong as she takes part in the Sarikei Division Inter-Secondary and Primary Schools Track and Field Championship at the Sarikei Stadium this Wednesday till Friday.
The 11-year-old primary pupil of SJK Hua Nam is set to write the Girls U-12 shot putt record of 10.71m she set in last year’s competition.
That record erased the former record of 10.63m set in 2003 and Wong also created history by becoming the first primary school pupil to break the 10m mark in Sarikei.
It wouldn’t be any problem for her to make another breakthrough as she has recorded 11.50m in training.
At the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSS) Sarawak Track and Field Championship in Betong two years ago, Wong won the Girls U-10 gold with a throw of 13.89m.
She had already recorded she was nine years old. According to her coach Thomas Ling, the girl who is of mixed parentage, the father being a Chinese Foochow and mother is a Papua New Guinean, is a rare talent in this field.
Wong is also the niece of five-time SEA Games hammer throw champion Wong Tee Kui.
“I discovered her born talent in early October, 2009 just before the athletics meet in Miri. I was really astonished that she could throw a distance of 9m then because even boys of her age can only throw 8.8m,” said Ling who is Sarawak State Sports Council’s Centre of Excellence coach in Sarikei.
He is also very impressed by Wong’s commitment in trying to better her achievements and her learning spirit.
“She is a fast learner, follows instructions closely and never skips any training session. In fact, she also comes for training even though she is sitting for a test the next day,” said Ling. He hoped that Wong can be a role model for her peersand the older athletes.
Wong trains regularly along with a few other older athletes including Sukma XIII hammer throw gold medallist Jackie Wong (19), Annie Tang Siew Ung (18), Tiong Mee Yien (17) and Queenie Ting (14) at the Sarikei Stadium.
The training sessions are 4pm to 6pm every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.