Jonathan leaps to long jump gold despite short training stint

JONATHAN Wong Kar Gee only joined the national para athletics long jump team in March.

But the six months of training proved more than enough for the 1.85m-tall Jonathan to achieve a personal best of 6.98m and win the men’s long jump T11/12 (visual impairment) gold in the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

His previous best was 6.87m, which he did at the National Schools Sports Council ( MSSM) Athletics Championships in Bukit Jalil in 2009.

Malaysia’s Mohamad Saifuddin Ishak (6.56m) won the silver while Thai Punthong Jakkit (5.46m) took the bronze.

So, why did Jonathan, who has been suffering from a genetic visual problem since he was eight years old, only join the para athletics team six months ago?

The 26- year- old said he only came to know about the Asean Para Games while watching a show about para athletes training for the Games on television in January.

“I was so keen to represent Malaysia in the Games and I’m glad that I managed to join the national training in Kota Kinabalu in March.

“I am overjoyed to have achieved a personal best and win the gold in just six months.

“I kept myself fit by exercising regularly before joining the national training.

“I used to compete against able-bodied athletes in the MSSM and did well to win the gold in triple jump by clearing 14.77m in 2009.

“But there’s no triple jump in the Asean Para Games. Otherwise, I could have contributed another gold for Malaysia,” said Jonathan, who used to study at the Tshung Tsin Chinese Secondary School in Kota Kinabalu.

Jonathan has been entered for three events — 100m, 200m and long jump — in the Games, but he skipped the 100m on Wednesday due to a slight muscle strain in his thigh.

Jonathan, who helps his parents with their family property business in Kota Kinabalu, said that since he didn’t feel any pain during the long jump event, he would definitely compete in the 200m today.

“I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I will finish on the podium,” he said.