Jonah breaks national record but 19m still out of reach

PETALING JAYA: National shot putter Jonah Chang Rigan (pic) smashed his own record again but was left frustrated after falling just short of the elusive 19m mark at the Asian Throwing Championships yesterday.

The Sarawakian finished fifth in the men’s final with a throw of 18.81m, eclipsing his previous national mark of 18.78m set at last year’s SEA Games in Thailand.

That effort in Thailand had earned him his first SEA Games gold while also rewriting the Games record of 18.14m.

“I’m happy with the new national record, but I felt I could have reached 19m today,” said the 22-year-old.

“My throw yesterday was only slightly better than my previous record.

“On my last attempt, I felt I could hit 19m, but my leg suddenly felt weak and it was ruled a foul.

“At local meets, you are competing against yourself, but here you are up against the best. That pushes you harder.

“I now have the confidence to do it in my next competition. When it happens, I’ll go all out to qualify for the Asian Games,” added Jonah, who will compete in the Taiwan Open from June 6-7 next.

China dominated the event, with Chen Hongfei taking gold with 20.18m, ahead of teammate Chen Chengyu (19.64m). Kazakhstan’s Ivan Ivanov claimed bronze with 19.41m.

There were other encouraging performances with Nani Sahirah Maratha emerging as the top South-East Asian athlete in the women’s shot putt.

She finished fifth in the final with a best throw of 14.72m while China’s Ding Zhuhui took gold with 17.08m.

“It wasn’t my best. I need to improve my angles, footing and speed in the spin. I should be hitting 15m at this stage,” she said.

Kamal Farhan Abdul Rahman hurled his season-best throw of 50.19m in the discus qualification round, finishing sixth in Group A, but missed the top-five final cut.

“This is only my second competition after surgery, so I’m very happy,” said Kamal, who went through a hamstring tendon operation last year.

“Coming back to training after Christmas and achieving this distance gives me the confidence,” added Kamal, whose personal best stands at 50.92m set in 2022.

Hammer thrower Sadat Marzuqi Ajisan broke his personal best in the final, recording 61.96m, erasing his old mark of 60.15m that saw him winning silver at Thailand SEA Games.

 

FINAL RESULTS

MEN

Shot putt: 1. Chen Hongfei (Chn) 20.18m, 2. Chen Chengyu (Chn) 19.64m, 3. Ivan Ivanov (Kaz) 19.41m.

Selected: 5. Jonah Chang Rigan 18.81m (NR).

Hammer throw: 1. Tatsuto Nakagawa (Jpn) 71.89m, 2. Fayozov Ayubkhan (Uzb) 71.33m, 3. Ashraf Elseify (Qat) 71.31m.

Selected: 12. Sadat Marzuqi Ajisan 61.96m.

WOMEN

Shot putt: 1. Ding Zhuhui (Chn) 17.08m, 2. Meng Xiangyu (Chn) 16.87m, 3. Wu Chi En (Tpe) 15.92m.

Selected: 5. Nani Sahirah Maryata 14.72m.

Discus throw: 1. Huang Jingru (Chn) 56.55m, 2. Ma Chenyi (Chn) 55.32m, 3. Saito Maki (Jpn) 54.69m.

Selected: 9. Queenie Ting 48.77m.

Hammer throw: 1. Zhang Axi (Chn) 69.72m, 2. Fang Ling (Chn) 69.64m, 3. Joy McArthur (Jpn) 66.73m.

Selected: 9. Grace Wong 57.11m, 15. Nurul Hidayah Lukman 48.96m.