Grace Wong eyes World Youth meet
KUCHING: Sarawak’s rising star athlete Grace Wong Xiu Mei has set her sights on breaking the 47m barrier in the hammer throw at the Malaysian Schools Sports Counci l ( MSSM) Track and Field Championship in Kuantan, Pahang from May 19-23.
If she can attain that distance, Wong will qualify for the World Youth Athletics Championship in Ukraine in July this year.
The 13-year- old transition class student of SMK Tinggi Sarikei
I really hope that she can achieve the target and get the chance to compete in an international championship.
Thomas Ling Neng Thung, coach and mentor
registered a throw of 44.37m to win the Girls Open hammer throw at the recent 41st Sarawak Schools Sports Council ( MSSS) Track and Field Championship at Bintulu Stadium.
According to her coach and mentor Thomas Ling Neng Thung, Wong’s golden opportunity to make the cut for the world youth meet will be at the MSSM meet in Pahang this month.
“I really hope that she can achieve the target and get the chance to compete in an international championship,” he said.
Ling, who is from the Sarawak State Sports Council’s Centre of Excellence for throw events in Sarikei, said for a 13-year- old, Wong has very good qualities to make an excellent athlete.
“She has the speed, stamina and strength, and has only trained in the hammer throw for six months,” he said, adding that 44.37m is only the beginning of greater things to come.
“Wong started out in shot putt but because of her height which is 160cm, she is at a disadvantage when competing against taller and bigger opponents.”
“For this reason, I have switched her to throwing the hammer as strength, speed and stamina are vital factors that decide how far you throw the hammer,” he explained.
Wong will also be looking to better her record throw of 11.28m in the Girls U15 shot put at the national meet in Pahang.
The MSSM record still stands at 11.22m set by Siti Norain in 2006.