S'wakian hammer thrower Grace Wong eyes breaking 60m mark in quest for Asian medal (Video)
(From left) Grace poses with gold medallist Taehui Kim from Korea and bronze medallist Hiu Ki Tam from Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Athletics Championships. – Screengrab from Facebook/Olahraga Malaysia/Malaysia Athletics
KUCHING (May 16): National hammer thrower Grace Wong Xiu Mei has set her sights on breaking the 60-metre mark and achieve a podium finish at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea on May 27-31.
The 25-year-old athlete from Sarikei threw 57.99m at the Hong Kong Athletics Championships last weekend for the silver medal.
However, this was poorer than her personal national record of 62.48m and best score of 58.91m this season at the Philippines Athletics Championships early this month.
'Although I won the silver medal, I know I can do better. Currently, I am just maintaining my basic form and am not at my peak yet.
'I have the next two weeks to adjust and improve. I will focus on strengthening my strength and technique. I hope to make a breakthrough in the Asian Championships and even compete for a medal,' said Grace, who is ranked 219 globally for women's hammer throw, in an interview.
In 2015, at the young age of 15, Grace represented Malaysia at the Wuhan Asian Athletics Championships and ranked fifth with a distance of 53.10m, becoming the youngest participant in the Malaysian delegation.
Since then, she has continued to improve, throwing 57.18m in Bhubaneswar, India in 2017 and finishing in eighth position, while at the 2023 Asian Championships in Pattaya, Thailand she finished in seventh place with 57.99m.
Her Southeast Asian Games record has been stellar with gold medals at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, 2022 Hanoi SEA Games, and 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, where she set a throw of 61.87m.
Her national record of 62.48m was set at the 2023 Malaysian Athletics Grand Prix.
Currently returning to the National Sports Council for training, Grace will take the Asian Athletics Championships as her new goal and also looks forward to the SEA Games, which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand at the end of the year. Asian Athletics Championships Grace Wong Xiu Mei Gumi lead
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
11 hours ago
- The Sun
Mohamad Azlan in hot water for ignoring rest order after fracture
NATIONAL sepak takraw right apit (striker) Mohamad Azlan Alias has been issued a show-cause letter after playing for his club, Melaka Titans, in the domestic league despite being advised to rest for two months due to a fractured elbow sustained last month. Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) president Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan said the letter was sent to both Mohamad Azlan and his club, requiring a response within seven days from yesterday. 'The (fracture) report came from the doctor and the National Sports Institute (ISN), so it must be respected. Mohamad Azlan is needed for bigger tournaments, representing the country at the Thai King's Cup in July and the SEA Games (in December). 'If he's not fully recovered and plays again, risking further injury, he may need a longer recovery period. Who will bear the consequences? He's a national player,' Mohd Sumali said when met at the STL (Sepak Takraw League) 2025 Community Programme at the Taman Mesra sepak takraw court here today. Mohd Sumali said he will personally raise the issue at a meeting to discuss follow-up actions. Mohamad Azlan was confirmed to have suffered a fracture in his left elbow following an incident during the team regu final at the 2025 Asian Sepak Takraw Cup at Titiwangsa Stadium in Kuala Lumpur last month, and was advised to rest for two months. However, the 27-year-old national team main striker was spotted competing for his club in the STL division one recently. 'Everyone is asking why he was playing. This has caused a stir because the mindset is that he's injured and undergoing treatment,' said Mohd Sumali. Meanwhile, today's programme saw STL players, television personalities and local residents come together for a gotong-royong effort, including repainting and upgrading the Taman Mesra sepak takraw court owned by the local residents' association. The court was chosen for its historical significance, having served as a recreational and training hub for the community and producing numerous talented players for over 50 years.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Shahidan faces challenge from 3 men for MA's top post
KUALA LUMPUR: Three men will join Malaysia Athletics (MA) president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim in the race for the top post in the national association's AGM-cum-election (for 2025-2029 term) on June 15. Datuk Seri Wira Mark Ling (incumbent deputy president), Perak's Datuk Karim Ibrahim and Terengganu's Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh will line up against Shahidan. Shahidan received four nominations, while Mark, the president of Negri Sembilan Athletics, received two nominations. Former MA president Karim and Wan Hisham received one nomination each. Mark, who is also MA coaching committee chairman, is going for broke. If he loses in his presidential bid, he will have no position at all in the national association. Five candidates are vying for the deputy president's post. They are Datuk R. Annamalai, Kari Ibrahim, Mohamat Hasan, Sallehudin Safar and Wan Hisham. Shahidan said: "I'm ready to face the challenges from the three candidates with an open heart. "Malaysia is a democratic country and anyone can challenge for the president's post."
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Exponent Shahmalarani leaps into world's top 10
PETALING JAYA: Karate exponent C. Shahmalarani is back where she belongs – in the world's top 10 standing of the women's kumite below 50kg category. Thanks to her silver medal breakthrough at the Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan last month, Shahmalarani moved six rungs to the 10th spot in the latest World Karate Federation (WKF) rankings.
