SERDANG, August 18 2025– Having to leave school at a young age to help her grandmother sell kampua noodles never stopped Sarawak women’s hammer throw athlete Yoyo Wong Zhi Yao from pursuing her dream of winning her first gold medal at the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) Selangor here today.
Competing at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Stadium, the 18-year-old from Sibu produced her best throw of 48.14 metres (m) in her final attempt to overcome the challenge from other athletes and win the event.
Nur Salsabila Mohd Zam Sairon of Perlis took silver with a 47.71m throw, while Pahang’s Nurul Aiyani Mohamed Kamaluddin won bronze with 46.63m.
Yoyo, who looks up to SUKMA record holder Grace Wong Xiu Mei, whose record stands at 57.76m, said the achievement was particularly meaningful after training six days a week under coach Jackie Wong Siew Cheer.
“I was aiming for gold and drew inspiration from Grace to give Sarawak this gold medal,” she said when met after the competition.
Meanwhile, Jackie said Yoyo’s talent was identified after he was appointed Sarawak’s hammer throw coach last year, prompting him to take the initiative to meet a teacher who had known her.
“Yoyo stopped schooling a long time ago. She left school after Form Three. She worked as a waitress and, at 16, had already been helping her grandmother sell kampua noodles in Sibu.
“Last year, when I was appointed Sarawak’s hammer throw coach, I went to meet her teacher, Cikgu Alex. Cikgu Alex said the athlete had stopped schooling for a long time, but I saw that she had the potential to win a gold medal for Sarawak,” he said.
He said Yoyo has shown encouraging progress in training, producing throws of around 50 to 51m, which has opened the possibility of her earning a place in the national squad for the 2027 SEA Games.
“She has managed 50, 51m or so in training. So I see the potential for her to qualify for next year’s SEA Games if she can reach 52 or 53m.
“Our target is to qualify for the Games and I hope she continues to work hard to achieve that target,” he said.
-BERNAMA
